Nova Arianto admits U-17 national team is far from Asian level.

Indonesian National Team Coach U-17, Nova Arianto, did not turn a blind eye to his squad's performance after suffering a crushing 0-7 defeat against China in an international friendly at Indomilk Arena, Tangerang Regency, Banten, Sunday, February 8, 2026. According to Nova, Garuda Muda's performance fell far below expectations set before the match.

China dominated throughout the game, scoring seven goals through contributions from Zhao Songyuan (two goals), Shuai Weihao (two goals), and one goal each from Wang Heyi, Zhang Bolin, and Ailikamu Yilihong. The disparity in quality, tempo, and game intensity was evident from the outset.

"Certainly, the result was far from our expectations. Our preparations for this match didn't translate into the performance we hoped for," Nova stated during the post-match press conference at Indomilk Arena.

Despite the heavy loss, Nova emphasized the need to view this defeat in a broader context. The match against China marked the first international outing for the new Indonesian U-17 squad, which now retains only Mierza Firjatullah as an experienced player from the 2025 U-17 World Cup.

"We recognize China as one of the strongest teams today. I believe our players fought to their maximum capacity, and that's what I wanted to see – for them to learn from this match," Nova added.

Most Indonesian National Team U-17 players have built chemistry through playing together in this season's Elite Pro Academy (EPA) U-18 competition as Garuda United U-18. The team impressively topped the Standings with 55 points from 22 matches (18 wins, 1 Draw, 3 losses), scoring 62 goals while conceding only 15.

However, Nova stressed that domestic dominance cannot serve as an absolute benchmark for international competition. The gap in gameplay level proved to be a crucial lesson from the friendly against China.

Nova asserted that the Indonesian U-17 National Team requires more international matches to enhance readiness before competing in the 2026 AFC U-17 Asian Cup.

"I've communicated to PSSI that these players need international friendlies due to the intensity difference," Nova explained.

"In terms of level, we're still far from being competitive in Asia. But we have time – nearly 1-2 months until the 2026 AFC U-17 Asian Cup," he added.

Indonesia is scheduled to face China again in a second friendly on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at Indomilk Arena. This match is expected to serve as both an evaluation platform and a progress benchmark for Garuda Muda's adaptation to international standards.