| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Host country | Malaysia |
| Dates | 15–25 October |
| Teams | 8 |
| Venue(s) | 3 (in 3 host cities) |
| Final positions | |
| Champions |  Vietnam (1st title) |
| Runners-up |  Malaysia |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 15 |
| Goals scored | 56 (3.73 per match) |
| Top scorer(s) | Mohd Safee Mohd Sali (5 goals) |
← 2007 2013 → | |
The 40th Merdeka Tournament was played from 15 to 25 October 2008.[1] The tournament was won by Vietnam, who defeated Malaysia 6-5 on penalties in the final.
Bangladesh Malaysia (host country)
Mozambique*
Myanmar
Nepal
Sierra Leone** Vietnam****Mozambique replaced Kazakhstan following Kazakhstan’s failure to confirm participation.[2] Mozambique will play with their Under 20 squad.
**Sierra Leone will be sending their Under 20 squad.
***Vietnam will be sending their Under 22 squad.[3]
| City | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Kuala Lumpur | Bukit Jalil National Stadium* | 100,000 |
| Shah Alam | Shah Alam Stadium | 81,000 |
| Petaling Jaya | MBPJ Stadium | 25,000 |
*Venue for last group match change because of the poor pitch condition at the MBPJ Stadium.[4]
All times local (UTC+8)
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malaysia
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | +14 | 9 |
| Sierra Leone
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 6 | +3 | 6 |
| Nepal
|
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 9 | –6 | 1 |
 Afghanistan
|
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 14 | –11 | 1 |
| Malaysia | 4–0 | Nepal |
|---|---|---|
Indra Putra  20' Safee 25', 48' Khyril 52' |
Report |
Attendance: 31,000
Referee: Huang Junji (China)
| Afghanistan | 2–2 | Nepal |
|---|---|---|
| Barakzai 62' Azimi 86' |
Report | A. Gurung 63' B. Gurung 72' |
| Malaysia | 4–0 | Sierra Leone |
|---|---|---|
| Indra Putra 69' Safee 75'Aidil 79'Adha 90' |
Report |
Attendance: 41,500
| Afghanistan | 1–6 | Sierra Leone |
|---|---|---|
| Qadami 47' |
Report | Turay 20' A. Kamara 51'Kabia 60'Foray 76', 86'S. Kamara 88' |
| Nepal | 1–3 | Sierra Leone |
|---|---|---|
| Rai 40' (pen.) |
Report | Bah 6' Turay 88'Freeman 90' |
| Malaysia | 6–0 | Afghanistan |
|---|---|---|
| Ashaari 21', 64' Nizaruddin 41'Adha 44'Safee 85'Hairuddin 87' |
Report |
Attendance: 3,000
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vietnam
|
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 3 | +6 | 7 |
| Myanmar
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 6 |
| Mozambique
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 7 | –4 | 3 |
| Bangladesh
|
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | –2 | 1 |
| Myanmar | 1–3 | Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
| Zaw Htet Aung 44' |
Report | Thanh Bình 3', 47' Đức Thiện 74' |
Attendance: 1,200
Referee: Fredy Chukwa (East Timor)
| Bangladesh | 0–1 | Mozambique |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Jange 88' |
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: P. Sasidaran (India)
| Mozambique | 0–4 | Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Thanh Bình 58' Đình Tùng 63', 80' Quang Vinh 72' |
| Bangladesh | 0–1 | Myanmar |
|---|---|---|
| Soe Myat Min 23' |
| Bangladesh | 2–2 | Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
| Ameli 32' Zahid 49' |
Report | Văn Khải 4' Thanh Bình 62' |
| Mozambique | 2–3 | Myanmar |
|---|---|---|
| Saize 40' Peguenino 65' |
Report | Min Thu 57' Soe Myat Min 69'Khin Maung Lwin 72' |
All times local (UTC+8)
| Semi-finals | Final | ||||
| ||||||
| 23 October | |||||
| ||||||
| Vietnam (PSO) | 2 (3) | ||||
| 25 October | |||||
| Sierra Leone U-20 | 2 (2) | ||||
| Vietnam (PSO) | 0 (6) | ||||
| 23 October | |||||
| Malaysia | 0 (5) | ||||
| Malaysia | 4 | ||||
| ||||||
| Myanmar | 0 | ||||
| ||||||
| Vietnam | 2–2 (a.e.t.) | Sierra Leone U-20 |
|---|---|---|
| Quang Vinh 73' Đức Thiện 81' |
Report | Kabia 39' Foray 68' |
| Penalties | ||
Nhật Nam  Thanh Bình Công Huy  Đức Thiện |
3–2 | ?? ?? ?? Kabia Bah |
Attendance: 5,000
| Malaysia | 4–0 | Myanmar |
|---|---|---|
| Indra Putra 26', 76' (pen.) Safee 61'Amirul Hadi 83' |
Report |
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Chaiya Alee Mahapab (Thailand)
| Vietnam | 0–0 (a.e.t.) | Malaysia |
|---|---|---|
| Report | ||
| Penalties | ||
| Nhật Nam Danh Ngọc Công Huy Đức Thiện Văn Duyệt Tiến Thành |
6–5 | Indra Putra Safee Hardi Ashaari Daudsu Norhafiz |
Attendance: 50,000
Referee: Chaiya Alee Mahapab (Thailand)
| 2008 Merdeka Tournament winner |
|---|
 Vietnam 1st title |
|
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