The Singapore national football team wants to do something they’ve never done before — qualify for the Asian Cup 2027 in Saudi Arabia on merit.
Not since 1984 (see main photo) when Singapore hosted the event at the National Stadium have the Lions participated at the Asian Cup.
Back then, even photos which were published in the local media were in black and white, and 1984 was when Singapore was only celebrating its 25th year of independence.
So the question is: Is the Asian Cup target realistic?
Afterall, the Lions are ranked in 160th spot in the FIFA rankings, and will come up against India (126th), Hong Kong (155th), and Bangladesh (185th) in the Group C match-ups.
Only the team which ends up at the top of the table will qualify.
The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) certainly believes that there is a chance and said that the teams are “beatable”.
Singapore kick off their campaign at home against Hong Kong on 25 March.
“I believe these teams are beatable,” said FAS general secretary Chew Chun Liang at a media session outlining the association’s 2025 plans, as reported by The Straits Times.
“And I think this is something achievable with the leadership of coach (Tsutomu) Ogura, and I think this is something that we believe we can work towards.”
Ogura, who led the Lions to the semi-finals of last year’s ASEAN Championship, knows the challenge ahead.
The Lions have never qualified for the Asian Cup through qualification..
“To have our first qualification, that is very, very difficult.
“We need to challenge ourselves. For me, what is important is the process,” said the former Japan assistant coach.
To boost their chances, the FAS is backing Cardiff City defender Perry Ng’s application for Singapore citizenship under the Foreign Sports Talent (FST) scheme.
The 28-year-old is eligible through his late grandfather, who was Singaporean.
It is fair to have targets but if the Lions fail to make the Asian Cup, then whose head should roll?
MAIN PHOTO: NATIONAL ARCHIVES