KUCHING – Kuching City FC winger Nur Shamie Iszuan Amin has been given another opportunity to prove his capability with the Harimau Malaya squad after receiving a call-up to attend the national team’s centralised training camp in preparation for two crucial matches in the 2026 World Cup Qualifier/2027 Asia Cup next month.
Malaysia will face Group D leaders Kyrgyzstan at the Dolen Omurzakov Stadium in Bishkek on June 6, before concluding their qualifying campaign against Taiwan on June 11 at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
According to head coach Kim Pan-gon, Nur Shamie, who was initially on the standby list, was called up to replace Sabah FC striker Darren Lok, who is suffering from a hamstring injury.
“Shamie, aged 29, will replace Darren Lok from Sabah FC, who had reported for training yesterday but had to be released after the doctor confirmed his hamstring injury.
“Hopefully, Darren will recover quickly and return for the team’s next centralised training camp,” Pan-gon said in a statement on the Football Association of Malaysia’s official Facebook page today.
Nur Shamie is no stranger to the national squad under the South Korean coach’s tutelage, having played for Harimau Malaya in the 2022 Asean Football Federation Cup in two group matches against Laos and Vietnam, as well as the first leg semi-final against Thailand.
After four matches in Group D, Malaysia currently sit in the third spot with six points.
Kyrgyzstan lead the group with nine points, the same as second-placed Oman, while Taiwan are in fourth place with no points.
Malaysia need to collect points from both upcoming matches and hope Oman will beat Kyrgyzstan in their final group match on June 11 to keep their hopes alive for a historic entry into the third round of the 2026 World Cup Qualifier and qualify for the 2027 Asia Cup.
Oman and Kyrgyzstan will clash in Muscat on June 11 in a top-of-the-table showdown. – May 28, 2024