| Fadhil Yunus |
BRUNEI Darussalam have been drawn in a tough Group ‘B’ alongside record winners Thailand in the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Futsal Championship in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam from October 23 to November 3.
With the exception of Timor Leste, the young Wasps have been drawn in the ‘Group of Death’ with Indonesia and hosts Vietnam turning their attentions to an automatic berth in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Futsal Championship.
While the War Elephants are odds on favourites to secure an unprecedented 13th title, the minimum target for most of the teams is to earn a ticket to the AFC proper in February 2018.
The AFF tournament serves as a qualifying platform for the Asean zone including Australia with other regions also set to do the same such as the West, South and Central zones as well as the East zone.
Thailand automatically qualified for the 2018 tournament after finishing in third place in the 2016 edition.
The War Elephants thumped Vietnam 8-0 in the third place playoff to ensure an imminent return to the continental showpiece following the likes of eventual winners Iran and runners-up Uzbekistan.
Since Thailand have already qualified, an extra spot will be awarded in Group ‘B’ with a team possibly missing out on a knock-out stage likely to take the place.
As for Group ‘A’, the top two teams will not only seal a place in the last four but will also directly advance to the AFC Futsal Championship.
The AFF meet will be held for the second time this year with the previous edition held in January after it was initially mooted last October.
The Wasps missed out on a chance to seal what would have been a historic progress in the knock-out stage after slipping to an 8-6 defeat to Timor Leste despite leading the match.
With Thailand huge favourites as group winners, the second spot was up for grabs made possible after Vietnam and Singapore pulled out from the tournament.
Brunei’s best showing in the AFF competition is fourth place having achieved the feat three times in 2001, 2005 and 2008.
Thailand trounced Myanmar 8-1 in the final to secure their 12th title though unlike the upcoming edition none of the qualified teams who reached the knock-out stage earned the right to represent the Asean zone in the AFC Futsal Championship.
Myanmar, Malaysia, Laos, Philippines and Australia complete Group ‘A’.
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