SEPANG, March 17 — The Harimau Malaya received a setback ahead of their crucial Group D match in the second round of the 2026 World Cup/2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers against Oman in Muscat next week as team captain Matthew Davies had to be sidelined due to injury.

The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) confirmed that apart from Matthew, affectionately known as Matt, Junior Eldstal also wouldn’t be joining Kim Pan-gon’s squad in Muscat due to injury.