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​Nova Arianto Sets Clear Goals for Indonesia U-17 After Painful Asian Cup Exit

​Nova Arianto Sets Clear Goals for Indonesia U-17 After Painful Asian Cup Exit

Indonesia’s U-17 national team saw their journey in the 2025 AFC U-17 Asian Cup come to a disappointing end after suffering a heavy 0-6 defeat against North Korea in the quarter-finals. The loss marked a stark contrast to their dominant run in the group stage, where they emerged as Group C winners with a perfect record.
Despite the setback, head coach Nova Arianto remained composed, choosing to focus on the team’s overall performance and potential rather than the harsh scoreline. While acknowledging North Korea’s strong showing, he emphasized his appreciation for the fight and effort shown by his players, even in such a tough match.
With the Asian Cup campaign over, Nova now turns his attention to a much bigger stage—the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar, set to take place from November 3 to 27. Although Indonesia is already confirmed to participate, the recent defeat has exposed several areas that need urgent attention.
Nova pointed out that while his players showed impressive mental strength, decision-making on the pitch remains a major area for improvement. Over the next five months, he plans to focus not just on physical and mental conditioning, but also on refining the technical skills and individual quality of his squad.
This upcoming World Cup appearance will be Indonesia’s second consecutive showing at the tournament. The team first made history by qualifying as hosts in 2023 under then-coach Bima Sakti. Now, with a different coach at the helm and lessons learned from the Asian Cup, the young Garuda squad aims to arrive in Qatar stronger, smarter, and better prepared for the global challenge ahead.