Vietnam U22 keeps Ly Duc for the opening match against Laos U22.
Coach Kim Sang Sik kept center-back Ly Duc for the SEA Games 33, while Dinh Bac and Pham Minh Phuc missed the opening match on December 4th against U22 Laos due to scheduling conflicts.
The Vietnam U22 team will have the services of center-back Ly Duc in their opening match of the SEA Games 33 against Laos U22 on December 4th. Conversely, striker Dinh Bac and midfielder Pham Minh Phuc of CAHN will not be able to participate due to conflicting club schedules and will only be able to join the team on December 4th.
List of 28 players and preparation timeline.
On November 21st, head coach Kim Sang Sik announced the list of 28 players for the final training camp in preparation for the 33rd SEA Games (2025) and further ahead to the 2026 AFC U23 Championship. CAHN contributed three players: center-back Ly Duc, midfielder Pham Minh Phuc, and striker Dinh Bac.
Due to CAHN's schedule in the 2025 Southeast Asian Club Championship, Dinh Bac and Pham Minh Phuc could only join the national team on December 4th – coinciding with the Vietnam U22 team's match against Laos U22, thus missing the opening match. Center-back Ly Duc remained with the national team.
Ly Duc's role: few minutes at the club, key player in the U22 team.
Ly Duc is a key player in the Vietnam U22 defense. At club level this season, he has only made 5 appearances for CAHN in all competitions, mostly coming on as a substitute. In international club competitions, Ly Duc has played one match in the Southeast Asian Club Cup and has not yet played in the AFC Cup.
Keeping Ly Duc in the Vietnam U22 team is considered reasonable given the current personnel and match schedule. Sources indicate that CAHN may prioritize foreign central defenders with good physiques for international competitions, limiting Ly Duc's playing opportunities at the club, while he is a key player at the U22 level.
Personnel impact: flexibility is needed in midfield and in attack.
The absence of Pham Minh Phuc (midfielder) and Dinh Bac (forward) forces the coaching staff to consider flexible personnel options for each situation, maximizing the cohesion of the group of players who have been together throughout the more than one year of preparation. Immediate adjustments will be needed in the attacking and midfield positions for the opening match.
Notable statistics
- He has made 5 appearances for CAHN this season in all competitions (mostly as a substitute).
- One appearance in the Southeast Asian Club Cup.
- 0 matches in the AFC Cup.
Schedule and fixtures
| Timeline | Content |
|---|---|
| 23/11 | The troops gathered in Vung Tau. |
| 1/12 | Travel to Thailand |
| Day | Competitor | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 4/12 | Laos U22 | opening match |
| 11/12 | U22 Malaysia | SEA Games 33 Group Stage |
With the current defensive lineup and the return of key players after the opening match, the Vietnam U22 team has a basis to refine its personnel plan in each match, in line with the goal of competing at the SEA Games 33 and building on the journey towards the 2026 AFC U23 Championship.
