SEPANG: It was a dream come true for young Selangor FC defender Harith Haiqal Adam Afkar when he was listed in the Harimau Malaya squad who will play Oman in the World Cup 2026/Asian Cup 2027 Group D second round qualifiers in Muscat next week.

The 22-year-old now has a chance to make his senior international debut if he is fielded by head coach Kim Pan Gon in the match, which will take place at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex on March 22 (2 am Malaysian time).

The national Under-23 player’s selection for the senior team may be due to the absence of Junior Eldstal, one of two players apart from skipper Matthew Davies who was dropped at the last minute due to injuries.

However, the Mokhtar Dahari Football Academy (AMD) product said although his selection was unexpected, it was not all due to luck.

“We all need an element of luck but in this case, I consider it good fortune rather than pure chance. I have worked hard and represented Selangor for five years, and this is the first time I’m on the final list. I’m truly thankful and glad.

“Even if Junior was available I might have made it too; I don’t know. But my focus now is on the match with Oman,” he said when met at the Kuala Lumpur International (KLIA) Airport here today.