History was made as the Indonesian National eSports Team, led by Elga Cahaya Putra, Rizky Faidan, and Akbar Paudie, conquered the first-ever AFC eAsian Cup 2023. The exhilarating tournament, held February 1-5 at Doha’s Virtuocity Arena, culminated in a nail-biting best-of-three final against Japan, represented by Satake Shinichi, Aihara Tsubasa, and Hashiki Shumpei.
Indonesia dominated the competition, emerging from Group D undefeated after overcoming regional powerhouses like Vietnam and Japan. Their momentum continued, with impressive victories over South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, and Thailand, setting the stage for a thrilling rematch with Japan in the finals.
The tension was electric in the grand finale. Both teams traded blows in the first game, forcing penalties after a 1-1 draw. Indonesia capitalized on Japan’s falter, seizing the first set with unwavering composure.
Adapting their strategy, Japan adopted a cautious approach in the second game, searching for counter-attack opportunities. But Indonesia’s resilience shone through. A well-earned free kick in the 100th minute, expertly converted by Elga and Rizky, secured the winning goal. The final whistle blew, sealing Indonesia’s historic 2-0 victory and their first-ever AFC international esports title.
This remarkable achievement marks a new dawn for Indonesian eFootball scene. Elga, the team’s star player, adds this win to his previous triumph at the eFootball IESF 2022, further solidifying his international dominance.
