Indonesia eliminated from the 2026 AFF Cup, Anton Sanjoyo requests that John Herdman be retained.

Indonesia National Team's failure to advance to the 2026 AFF Cup semi-finals is not considered sufficient grounds to change the direction of the squad's long-term development. National football observer Anton Sanjoyo instead views this result as part of the process towards a larger target: the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.

According to Anton, the AFF Cup should not be used as the sole benchmark for the success of the Indonesian National Team under John Herdman's leadership. He stated that the Garuda Squad's main focus must be directed towards competing at the continental Asian level.

"Ever since John Herdman took charge of the team in January 2026, I have always emphasised that the primary benchmark is the Asian Cup, not the AFF Cup," Anton Sanjoyo stated in an official release in Jakarta on Saturday, 8 August 2026.

Indonesia was officially eliminated from the 2026 AFF Cup after only managing a 1-1 draw against Singapore at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore on Friday, 7 August 2026.

This result meant the Garuda Squad failed to qualify for the semi-final stage. One key issue that has drawn attention is the performance of backup players when facing opponents from the Southeast Asian region.

Anton explained that the team's inability to break down Singapore's defence is a clear signal that Indonesia's squad depth still requires strengthening. Backup players are yet to consistently deliver competitive performances when given the chance to feature in matches.

Call for John Herdman to Remain in Post

Anton also urged supporters not to judge the national team's failure in a narrow, short-term manner. He noted that the journey to compete at the Asian Cup requires a far longer process, particularly as the standard of competition is significantly higher than ASEAN regional tournaments.

When facing top sides such as Japan, South Korea and Australia, Indonesia will require substantial improvements both in the individual quality of players and tactical game planning.

For this reason, Anton has recommended that PSSI avoid making any hasty decision to dismiss John Herdman. He warned that changing the head coach at this stage would risk disrupting the foundation that is currently being built for the national team.

"This process is still ongoing, and replacing the coach will only destroy the foundation that we are currently establishing," he stated.

While advocating for Herdman to retain his position, Anton also stressed that the English head coach must still conduct a full comprehensive review following this AFF Cup failure. Herdman should not become complacent after this disappointing result.

He will need to develop a playing system that properly matches the characteristics and quality of the players available. One particular area under scrutiny is the use of a three-man defensive formation.

Anton stated that the 3-4-3 system must be re-evaluated if the available central defenders do not possess the qualities required to execute this setup effectively. This review is critical to ensure the deployed system plays to the actual strengths of Indonesia's squad.

Communication with Domestic Clubs Identified as Key Priority

Beyond tactical issues, Anton also believes Herdman needs to build much closer, more regular communication with head coaches across domestic competitions.

Coaches working in the Super League and First Division hold valuable on-the-ground data regarding the development of local players. This collaboration will help Herdman identify players that fit the requirements of the national team setup.

With time running out ahead of the 2027 Asian Cup, Herdman is now under pressure to start delivering tangible results from the squad development process that began earlier this year.

"Herdman is being paid very well to prepare this national team to compete at Asia's elite level. The clock is ticking down to the Asian Cup. Now is the time for Herdman to prove his ability to craft effective tactics and maximise the potential of Indonesia's players," he added.

As such, the 2026 AFF Cup failure should not be treated as the end of the Herdman project. Instead, this result can be used as valuable evaluation material to improve squad depth, game strategy, and overall preparation of the Indonesian National Team ahead of the far greater challenge that awaits at the 2027 Asian Cup.