KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 15 — The two 2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup slots will be filled by the 2022 Malaysia Cup champions and the 2022 Super League runners-up, while the Super League third placed team is uncertain of qualifying to the tournament next year.
The announcement by the Malaysian Football League (MFL) today means that the three teams competing for the automatic slot, second-placed Sabah FC, with 42 points, third-placed Terengganu FC with 41 points, and fourth-placed Negeri Sembilan, also with 41 points, will most certainly do their best in the last round of Super League matches tonight.
Sabah will face 2022 Super League champions, Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri while Terengganu takes on Kedah Darul Aman FC at Darul Aman Stadium in Alor Setar. Meanwhile, Negeri Sembilan will wrap up their campaign against Sri Pahang FC at Darul Makmur Stadium in Kuantan.
The MFL decided that the AFC Cup slot initially meant for the 2022 FA Cup winners would be given to the 2022 Malaysia Cup champions after JDT, who won the FA Cup this year, qualified for the AFC Champions League by emerging league champions.
MFL had also stated that should one club emerge as 2022 treble champion and win the Super League, FA Cup and Malaysia Cup in the same year, or if the 2022 Malaysia Cup was won by the Super League runners-up, then the Super League third-placed would be eligible for the 2023 AFC Cup slot.
“The club slot to the AFC championship however, is based on clubs obtaining AFC club licence for the 2023 season,” the MFL said in a statement today.
The MFL also expressed hope that there would be no confusion over the determination of slots for the 2023 AFC Cup as a circular had been sent to all competing teams before the 2022 season began.
— Bernama
