LAHORE: Pakistan football team’s head coach Stephen Constantine on Monday acknowledged that playing the second match of the AFC Asia Cup Qualifier against Myanmar in Yangon will be a challenge for his side.

Pakistan face Myanmar in their Group ‘E’ qualifier on Tuesday at the Thuw­u­nna Stadium in Yangon.

“I think for us it will be a very difficult game. For Pakistan, all the games are difficult. I think everyone knows our situation, but we have a good group of players,” Constantine said in a pre-match media conference held in Yan­gon, according to the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF).

“They have worked hard over the last few days and we have come here to try to win the game,” added the Englishman, under whom Pakistan lost the first match of the qualifier 2-0 to Syria in Saudi Arabia in March this year.

“I think the boys have adapted well to the training. We just have to get on with it. Every single game you play for Pakistan is important — even friendlies,” the 62-year-old, who was appointed Pakistan head coach in September 2023, added.

Responding to a question, Constantine said that his boys would try to produce the desired result against Myanmar on their soil.

“Myanmar won their last game, so of course they’re playing at home, they will be favourites for this game. But we will fight like we do in every game, and will try to get the result we want, which is to win. We didn’t come here to lose,” he said.

Reflecting on the previous fixture against Syria, Constantine said: “We prepared to play with Syria in the last game. We lost it 2-0 but I think we played quite well.”­

Published in Dawn, June 10th, 2025