Perak FA state football team

This article is about the current Perak Football Association football team. For its predecessor, see Perak F.C.

Perak

Full name	Perak FA state football team
Founded	1921;105 years ago (1921), as Perak Amateur Football Association 2025;1 year ago (2025), as Perak FA state football team (revived)
Ground	Perak Stadium Chepor SSI Mini Stadium, Perak Football Complex
Capacity	42,500 1,000
Owner	Perak Football Association
Head coach	Syamsul Saad
League	Malaysia A1 Semi-Pro League
2025–26	TBD
Home colours Away colours

Perak FA state football team (Malay : Pasukan Bola Sepak Negeri Perak), also known as Perak FA, is a Malaysian professional football club based in Ipoh, Perak. The club is governed and funded by the Perak Football Association, representing the state of Perak in the second-tier Malaysia A1 Semi-Pro League. The club's home ground is 42,500 capacity Perak Stadium. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

History

Perak FA state football team was revived at the Malaysian football scene by participating in 2025–26 Malaysia A1 Semi-Pro League with developmental squad. ^{[4] [5]} The club is established to replace the disbanded Perak Football Club, which had previously been expelled from the Malaysia Super League due to licensing issues. ^{[6] [7]} Perak FA state football team is a separate entity and does not inherit the history or honours of Perak FC, formerly known as Perak FA.

2025–26 Malaysia Cup "Giant-Killers"

Despite competing in the second-tier Malaysia A1 Semi-Pro League, the revived Perak FA qualified for the 2025–26 Malaysia Cup and was drawn against Super League side Kuala Lumpur City in the Round of 16. In the first leg held on 18 January 2026, Perak FA produced one of the competition's biggest upsets by defeating KL City 2–0 at the Manjung Municipal Council Stadium. ^[8]

Although they were narrowly eliminated after a 3–2 aggregate score following extra time in the second leg, the team's performance earned them a spot in the MFL Challenge Cup quarter-finals, where they are scheduled to face UM-Damansara United in February 2026.

Players

Current squad

As of September 2025 ^[9]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK   MAS Ahmad Farihin Hazimi 2 DF   MAS Fadhil Mohammad Azmi 3 MF   MAS J. Tamotehran 4 MF   MAS Fadhil Idris 5 MF   MAS Firdaus Ahmad Fuad 6 MF   MAS Akmal Hazim 7 FW   MAS Izhar Daniel Zain 8 DF   MAS Danish Haikal 9 MF   MAS Ahmad Daniel Hakimi 10 FW   MAS Alif Zikri 11 FW   MAS Amirul Akmal 13 DF   MAS Amirul Fikri 14 MF   MAS Alif Danial 15 DF   MAS Aloysius Moses 16 DF   MAS Hafizy Daniel

No. Pos. Nation Player 17 FW   MAS Afifin Arfa 18 MF   NGA Christian Chukwu 19 MF   MAS Haziq Danish 20 FW   MAS Iffat Fahmi 21 DF   MAS Kamal Arif(captain) 22 GK   MAS Syazwan Syazany 23 MF   NGA Aliyu Abubakar 24 DF   MAS Nasrol Amri 25 FW   MAS Rafieq Al-Amzar 28 FW   MAS Ammar Haikal 30 FW   NGA Ekene Victor Emewulu 31 GK   MAS Thasheerathe Kiran Kumar 40 FW   MAS Aiman Aqasha 46 MF   MAS Aqil Amsyar 47 FW   MAS Al Fahhimi Nor Azizul 88 MF   MAS Wan Zack Haikal

Club officials

As of 1 August 2025 ^[10]

Position	Name
Team manager	Dato' Ahmad Sabri Mohamed
Assistant manager	Zainal Anuar Abdul Rashid
Head coach	Syamsul Saad
Assistant coach	Shahrulnizam Mustapa
Goalkeeper coach	Mohd Azlen Ahmad Jabri
Fitness coach	Abu Mutalib Baeman
Kitman	Khairul Asyraf Sahizah

2025–26 Season

In 2025, Perak FA was revived to participate in the Malaysia A1 Semi-Pro League after the restructuring of state football. Under head coach Syamsul Saad, the team recruited a mix of local youth and foreign imports, including Nigerian trio Christian Chukwu, Aliyu Abubakar, and Ekene Victor Emewulu. ^[11] The team gained national attention in January 2026 for defeating Kuala Lumpur City F.C. 2–0 in the first leg of the 2025–26 Malaysia Cup Round of 16. ^[12]

Media and performance milestones

2025–26 Malaysia Cup "Giant-Killers" tag

Perak FA gained significant national media attention during the 2025–26 Malaysia Cup campaign. Despite competing in the second-tier Malaysia A1 Semi-Pro League, the team qualified for the Round of 16 and was drawn against Kuala Lumpur City, a top-three Super League side and former champions.

In the first leg held on 18 January 2026 at Stadium MPM Manjung, Perak FA produced what many pundits called the "upset of the season," defeating KL City 2–0. Goals from Ahmad Daniel Hakimi and Fadhil Azmi, supported by a resolute defense led by Nigerian center-back Aliyu Abubakar, earned the team praise across Malaysian sports media as "giant-killers." ^{[13] [14]}

Transition to MFL Challenge Cup

Following a hard-fought second leg at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium on 25 January 2026, Perak FA was narrowly eliminated from the Malaysia Cup with a 3–2 aggregate score after the match went into extra time. ^[15]

Under tournament regulations, as a Round of 16 loser, Perak FA was transferred to the **MFL Challenge Cup**. Media reports leading into February 2026 have labeled Perak FA as one of the favorites to win the trophy, given their high-level performance against Super League opposition. ^[16] They are scheduled to face UM Damansara United in the quarter-finals in early February.

Perak FA gained significant national media attention during the 2025–26 Malaysia Cup campaign. Despite competing in the second-tier Malaysia A1 Semi-Pro League, the team qualified for the Round of 16 and was drawn against Kuala Lumpur City, a top-three Super League side.

In the first leg held on 18 January 2026 at Stadium MPM Manjung, Perak FA produced one of the competition's biggest upsets by defeating KL City 2–0. The match was widely covered by The Star and Utusan Malaysia , with pundits praising the tactical discipline of coach Syamsul Saad and the defensive leadership of Nigerian center-back Aliyu Abubakar, who made several vital clearances to keep a clean sheet. ^{[17] [18]}

Challenge Cup qualification

After a 3–2 aggregate loss following the second leg in Cheras (which went into extra time), Perak FA was transferred to the MFL Challenge Cup as per tournament regulations for Round of 16 losers. Media reports have identified Perak FA as a primary contender for the Challenge Cup due to their high-level performance against Super League opposition. ^[19]

References

1. "PAFA cadang sertai Liga A1 musim depan". Astro Awani.
2. "PAFA sasar kebangkitan, sedia sertai Liga A1 musim depan". Harian Metro.
3. "Perak Sah Sertai Liga A1". Makan Bola.
4. "Perak FA dapat restu MB Perak sertai Liga A1". Sinar Harian.
5. "Kedah FA & Perak FA antara 12 pasukan sah bersaing di Liga A1". Harimau Malaya.
6. "Kedah, Perak gagal dapat lesen, tersingkir daripada Liga Super". Astro Awani.
7. "16 Pasukan Sah Sertai Liga A1 Semi Pro 2025-2026". Bernama.
8. "Piala Malaysia: Perak FA kejutkan KL City FC 2-0". Utusan Malaysia . 18 January 2026. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
9. "Perak FA 2025-26 Player List". Football Association of Malaysia.
10. "Perak FA Officials". FAM. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
11. "Perak FA Secure services Of Nigeria's Christian Chukwu". Bernama. 9 August 2025.
12. Avineshwaran, T. (18 January 2026). "Perak defy the odds with stunning win over KL in Malaysia Cup". The Star.
13. Avineshwaran, T. (18 January 2026). "Perak defy the odds with stunning win over KL in Malaysia Cup". The Star. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
14. "Piala Malaysia: Perak FA kejutkan KL City FC 2-0". Utusan Malaysia. 18 January 2026. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
15. "Nicolao strikes in extra time to send Kuala Lumpur into Malaysia Cup quarters". The Star. 25 January 2026. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
16. "Perak FA mampu cipta kejutan di Challenge Cup musim ini?". Harimau Malaya. 27 January 2026. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
17. Avineshwaran, T. (20 January 2026). "Perak pack a punch with two Daniels as they plot KL knockout after stunner". The Star. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
18. "Piala Malaysia: Perak FA kejutkan KL City FC 2-0". Utusan Malaysia. 18 January 2026. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
19. "Nicolao strikes in extra time to send Kuala Lumpur into Malaysia Cup quarters". The Star. 25 January 2026. Retrieved 30 January 2026.