KUALA LUMPUR, March 6 — Lack of preparation might stymie the national football squad’s chances of a good result against Oman at the 2026 World Cup/2027 Asian Cup second round qualifiers in Muscat on March 21.

Local football pundit Datuk Pekan Ramli said that the players’ fitness would be a decisive factor in the match, which was why their current level of fitness was important, as only several teams have begun pre-season training for the 2024/25 Malaysia League that will only begin in May.