Rizky Ridho Admits He Made a Fatal Mistake When Facing Vietnam, Will Fully Focus Ahead of the Upcoming Clash Against Singapore

Indonesia national team captain Rizky Ridho did not hide his disappointment after Garuda suffered a heavy 0-3 defeat against Vietnam in the 2026 AFF Cup Group A fixture at Pakansari Stadium, Bogor. The Persija Jakarta defender openly admitted that he made multiple errors which directly led to the opposition's goals.

This negative result marks Garuda's first defeat in the group stage, following two prior consecutive wins: a 5-1 victory over Cambodia and a 3-0 win against Singapore. Indonesia will now have to battle hard in their final group match to secure qualification for the semi-finals.

As team captain and leader of the defensive line, Ridho took full responsibility for the result.

"I am fully aware that today I made many mistakes that resulted in us conceding goals," he stated during the post-match press conference.

The 24-year-old player acknowledged that Vietnam outperformed Indonesia throughout the entire match. Per his assessment, the squad failed to execute the game plan that had been prepared by the coaching team.

Ridho noted that Vietnam's advantage did not only stem from their attacking effectiveness, but also their ability to capitalise on every single mistake made by Indonesian players.

He confirmed that multiple defensive organisation errors were immediately punished by Vietnam with goals.

"These are the kinds of mistakes I must re-evaluate and study properly, to ensure this never happens again in high-stakes matches like this," he said.

Despite his disappointment, Ridho stressed that he refuses to dwell on regret. His full focus is now fixed on the final group fixture against Singapore, scheduled for 7 August.

As captain, he also carries additional responsibility to rebuild the confidence of his teammates following this heavy defeat.

Alongside discussing match evaluations, Ridho also addressed criticism circulating across social media and public discourse.

He stated that criticism is an inherent part of professional football, however he will only accept constructive feedback.

"I will accept all good faith criticism intended to help me improve. But when criticism crosses into inappropriate, personal negative territory, I will not pay it any mind," said Rizky Ridho.

He acknowledges the errors he committed and is ready to take full accountability, but has chosen not to let hostile comments disrupt his preparation.

"So thank you for all the feedback, I will take it on board. I know I made mistakes, and now I will move on to prepare for the Singapore match so I can perform better going forward," he stated.

He also called for continued support from fans ahead of this decisive final group match that will determine Garuda's tournament fate.

"We have one match left in Singapore. Please keep us in your prayers, we will give absolutely everything to secure all three points," he appealed.