President Jokowi Shows Appreciation for National Football Team on Holding Saudi Arabia to 1-1 Draw
President Jokowi shows appreciation to the Indonesian national football team after a 1-1 result draw against Saudi Arabia on the 3rd round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification for the Asian zone group C. (Photo by: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat/Rusman)
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo expressed appreciation for the achievement of the Indonesian national football team for holding Saudi Arabia to a 1-1 draw in the 3rd round match of the 2026 World Cup Qualificiers for the Asian zone group C.
“We are very proud that our national team can fight well and there were some very good opportunities to secure more goals,” President Jokowi told the press at Soponyono Market, Surabaya city, East Java province, Friday (09/06).
In the match played at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Friday (09/06), the national team took one point against the Saudi Arabian team through a goal scored by Ragnar Oratmangoen in the 19th minute. However, Saudi Arabia team scored in the 45+3rd minute through Musab Al Juwayr.
In the second half, the referee gave Saudi Arabia a penalty kick in the 77th minute after the Indonesian goalkeeper Maarten Paes fouled a Saudi player. Salem Al Dawsari failed to score after his shot was blocked by Maarten Paes.
“Thank God, the penalty kick was blocked, and we should also be grateful that we returned home from Saudi Arabia with one point. We will wait for [match] on the 10th against Australia,” the President said.
Following this result, the Indonesian national team took the 3-4 position in the Group C standings along with Saudi Arabia with one point. In the next match, Indonesia will host Australia on September 10. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat/ABD) (FI/RAS)
