Hanoi (VNA) – The Indonesian women's football team has withdrawn from the 32nd SEA Games just a few hours after the draw on April 5 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The news was announced by the Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC) via a post on their Facebook page.
"Please also be informed that the Indonesian women's national team has decided to withdraw from the competition, so in Group A, there are four teams remaining including Vietnam, Philippines, Myanmar and Malaysia," read the statement.
It is the second time the team, the world’s No 97, left the tournament. They also pulled out of the 31st SEA Games in 2022 in Vietnam.
Group A is considered the 'group of death' which includes reigning champions Vietnam, No 33, and ASEAN championship winner the Philippines, No 49. Another strong team is Myanmar who sit at No 47 in the world.
In their latest participation in 2019 in the Philippines, Indonesia were in Group B with Vietnam and Thailand. They lost both matches, scoring one and conceding 11 goals. They were ousted from the group round.
Indonesia's withdraw however does not make the group easier.
The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF)’s General Secretary Duong Nghiep Khoi said the team's task was to defend their top position.
"Vietnam have never won a championship easily. The SEA Games has been always our big challenge,” said Khoi./.
