SINGAPORE, 14 MARCH 2025 – Head Coach Tsutomu Ogura has announced the 22 players who will fly the Singapore flag during the March FIFA International window as the Lions embark on their Road to Riyadh – the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup™ Saudi Arabia 2027 qualifiers.
The Singapore Men’s National Team face Nepal in an international friendly next Friday, 21 March 2025 before taking on Hong Kong, China on Tuesday, 25 March 2025 in their Group C opener of the Asian Cup qualifiers.
India and Bangladesh are the other teams in Group C. Only the team that wins the group will secure a ticket to the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia.
These, the Lions’ first matches of 2025, also marks Singapore’s return to international football since their run into the semi-finals of the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup last December.
“The tournament brought fans together in a way that inspired the players out on the field and really warmed my heart. I can’t reiterate this enough: the team received a big boost from their boisterous support, and it played a huge role in getting us to the semi-finals – but that competition is behind us, and we have a fresh project,” said Ogura.
“In this window, our aim is to build on the performances at the Mitsubishi Electric Cup, that spirit that the boys showed, and even the positivity that we were able to draw. Singapore have never qualified for the Asian Cup on merit before, and we want to embrace the big challenge of making history.
“We are inching closer to the style of football that I demand from the players, and I have faith in the 22 players that will feature in this international window,” he added.
The Lions at the National Stadium, 17 December 2024.
There are three recalls with Fairuz Fazli, Harhys Stewart and Ilhan Fandi named in the squad. Chiangrai United’s Harhys is back in the National Team fold after scheduling issues saw him miss out on the Mitsubishi Electric Cup. Fellow Thailand-based Lion, Ilhan returns to provide a boost to the squad’s attacking options.
Young Lions’ Fairuz is one of four uncapped players in the squad. The list includes Rudy Khairullah, Raoul Suhaimi and a new face in the National Team, Akram Azman. The 24-year-old defender will be hoping to make an impression on his first call-up having completed a dream move to the Lion City Sailors earlier this year.
“It’s an important mix of youth and experience in the squad that will help the squad improve. We have fresh faces who will come in full of energy and hunger. The returning players will be as motivated to come back, and they will add stability to the squad,” said Ogura.
“It’s always exciting to see new talent but it’s just as rewarding to welcome back those who’ve worked hard to regain their place. The competition for spots will be fierce and that can only make us better as a team.”
Akram Azman speaking to the media, 16 February 2025.
The door remains open to a few more players, with Ogura due to make a final decision on the make-up of the squad after the weekend’s Singapore Cup fixtures.
Cardiff City’s Perry Ng has been invited by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) to join the Lions for training in Singapore. This is following on his initial familiarisation stint with the Lions last year.
Tickets for both the Nepal and Hong Kong, China matches are available for purchase through Ticketek and the FAS official website (fas.org.sg/tickets).
Singapore Men’s National Team Fixtures
| Day & date | Match | Competition | Time | Venue |
| Friday, 21 March 2025 | Singapore vs Nepal | International Friendly | 8:30pm (SGT) | National Stadium, Singapore |
| Tuesday, 25 March 2025 | Singapore vs Hong Kong, China | AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ Qualifiers | 8:30pm (SGT) | National Stadium, Singapore |
Singapore Men’s National Team Squad
| S/N | Name | Pos | Caps | Goals | DOB | Club |
| 1 | Izwan Mahbud | GK | 61 | 0 | 14-Jul-90 | Lion City Sailors |
| 2 | Rudy Khairullah | GK | 0 | 0 | 19-Jul-94 | Geylang International |
| 3 | Syazwan Buhari | GK | 3 | 0 | 22-Sep-92 | BG Tampines Rovers |
| 4 | Akram Azman | DF | 0 | 0 | 21-Nov-00 | Lion City Sailors |
| 5 | Amirul Adli | DF | 33 | 0 | 13-Jan-96 | BG Tampines Rovers |
| 6 | Jordan Emaviwe | DF | 2 | 0 | 9-Apr-01 | Chiangrai United (THA) |
| 7 | Irfan Najeeb | DF | 9 | 1 | 31-Jul-99 | BG Tampines Rovers |
| 8 | Raoul Suhaimi | DF | 0 | 0 | 18-Sep-05 | Young Lions |
| 9 | Safuwan Baharudin | DF | 120 | 13 | 22-Sep-91 | Selangor FC (MAS) |
| 10 | Ryhan Stewart | DF | 23 | 0 | 15-Feb-00 | Albirex Niigata (S) |
| 11 | Lionel Tan | DF | 19 | 3 | 5-Jun-97 | Lion City Sailors |
| 12 | Christopher van Huizen | DF | 26 | 1 | 28-Nov-92 | Lion City Sailors |
| 13 | Fairuz Fazli | MF | 0 | 0 | 20-Jan-05 | Young Lions |
| 14 | Hami Syahin | MF | 31 | 0 | 16-Dec-98 | Lion City Sailors |
| 15 | Hariss Harun | MF | 138 | 11 | 19-Nov-90 | Lion City Sailors |
| 16 | Glenn Kweh | MF | 20 | 0 | 26-Mar-00 | BG Tampines Rovers |
| 17 | Kyoga Nakamura | MF | 7 | 2 | 25-Apr-96 | BG Tampines Rovers |
| 18 | Shah Shahiran | MF | 31 | 1 | 14-Nov-99 | BG Tampines Rovers |
| 19 | Harhys Stewart | MF | 4 | 0 | 20-Mar-01 | Chiangrai United (THA) |
| 20 | Abdul Rasaq Akeem | FW | 5 | 0 | 16-Jun-01 | Lion City Sailors |
| 21 | Ilhan Fandi | FW | 14 | 2 | 8-Nov-02 | BG Pathum United (THA) |
| 22 | Shawal Anuar | FW | 43 | 17 | 29-Apr-91 | Lion City Sailors |
CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT
FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF SINGAPORE
