The Indonesia U-17 Women’s National Team faced a challenging setback, ultimately succumbing to Myanmar in a decisive Group C fixture of the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers. The Young Garuda Putri suffered a narrow 0-1 defeat in the crucial match, which took place at Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon, Myanmar, on Friday afternoon (October 17).
This outcome unequivocally means Indonesia will not advance to the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup 2026 finals. Finishing as runner-up in their qualifying group with three points, trailing Myanmar’s six points, Indonesia missed out as only the group winner secures a spot in the prestigious tournament.
Starting XI: Indonesia vs. Myanmar
Indonesia: Alleana Ayu, Debby Alvani, Jazlyn Kayla, Jimbaran, Dian Aprilia, Keysha Bulgamin, Chorlienka, Shifana, Nafeeza Nori, Katarina Stalin, Febri Arum.
Myanmar: Saung Pwint, Thae Ei Hlaing, Chit Pwint Aung, Ka Mon Pa Kaung, Pin Myint Yan, Min Htone May, Shin Thant Phyu, Thaw Dar Hnin, Sai Hwal Nan, May Thinzar, Khaing Zin Myint.
Match Report
Indonesia’s U-17 squad largely maintained the same lineup that secured their victory against Macau in the previous match. Head Coach Timo Scheunemann made just one tactical change, swapping out striker Indira Fatima for Dian Aprilia, who also plays upfront. The initial 15 minutes saw both teams adopt an open, attacking approach. Indonesia managed to create an early opportunity through Keysha Bulgamin, but her shot lacked power and was easily gathered by the opposing goalkeeper. Myanmar, while more dominant in possession, struggled to convert their superiority into clear-cut scoring chances during this period.
Myanmar’s relentless high-pressing strategy significantly disrupted Indonesia’s ability to control the midfield. The flowing build-up play and intricate passing, characteristic of Scheunemann’s squad, frequently broke down in the central areas. Consequently, players like Kat Stalin and her teammates were forced to resort to less effective long balls, hindering their offensive rhythm.
In the 30th minute, Coach Timo Scheunemann executed a double substitution, signaling his apparent dissatisfaction with his frontline’s performance. Keysha Bulgamin was replaced by Diva Aulia, while Dian Aprilia made way for Indira Fatima, who returned to the field. Despite these changes, Indonesia continued to face an uphill battle.
Just before the half-time whistle, Indonesia conceded a crucial goal. The sequence began when Myanmar dispossessed Febri Arum, swiftly played the ball to Shin Thant Phyu, who then found the back of the net in the 45th+1 minute. The first half concluded with Indonesia trailing 0-1.
The second half largely mirrored the first, with Indonesia continuing to struggle in breaking down Myanmar’s resolute defense. Their attacking efforts consistently stalled in the final third, highlighting a pervasive difficulty in penetrating the opponent’s backline.
Beyond Myanmar’s effective high press, Indonesia also appeared to be grappling with a significant striker crisis throughout these qualifiers. The absence of key players like the injured Nasywa Salsabila Fatah and the unavailable Claudia Scheunemann severely limited the team’s offensive options. This scarcity of reliable forwards was compounded by Coach Timo Scheunemann’s apparent lack of confidence in his attacking line; in both qualification matches, the starting strikers were substituted as early as the 30-minute mark.
The integration of Keysha Bulgamin, initially hoped to inject a different dynamic, also proved challenging. Unlike her teammates who had been training together since June, Keysha only joined the squad a few weeks before the tournament, making her official debut in this crucial match. This limited preparation likely contributed to her struggles to synchronize with the team’s rhythm.
Furthermore, Nafeeza Nori, a standout performer in the AFF U-16 Women’s Championship, delivered a subdued performance in these AFC U-17 qualifiers. Against Macau, her shots often went wide, while in the decisive encounter with Myanmar, her movements were effectively contained by defenders, leaving her frequently isolated upfront.
Ultimately, the match concluded with a 0-1 scoreline, confirming Indonesia’s elimination from the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup. Myanmar, securing their well-deserved victory, will now progress to the finals in China in 2026.
Summary
The Indonesia U-17 Women’s National Team suffered a narrow 0-1 defeat against Myanmar in a decisive Group C fixture of the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers. The crucial match, held on October 17 in Yangon, Myanmar, saw Myanmar score in the 45th+1 minute. This outcome unequivocally means Indonesia, finishing as runner-up in their group with three points, will not advance to the 2026 finals, as only the group winner secures a spot. Myanmar will now progress to the finals in China.
During the match, Indonesia struggled against Myanmar’s relentless high-pressing strategy, which disrupted their midfield control and build-up play. The team also faced a significant “striker crisis,” with key players injured or unavailable, leading to early substitutions of their attacking line. Integration challenges for new player Keysha Bulgamin and a subdued performance from Nafeeza Nori further hampered Indonesia’s ability to penetrate Myanmar’s defense.