As the final whistle blew in the Jordanian capital of Amman, disappointment was etched on the faces of the Singapore Women’s National Team. A 1-0 defeat to Lebanon brought their AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifying campaign to a close, with the Lionesses consigned to a bottom-placed finish in Group A.
While the results did not go their way, there was a silver lining to be drawn from the experience. Injuries and a thin squad stretched the Lionesses, but their fighting spirit gave Head Coach Karim Bencherifa a platform to build on as they gear up for a crucial capaign before 2025 comes to a close.
In December, the Lionesses will head to Thailand to compete in the 2025 SEA Games. After consecutive group-stage exits in the past two editions, the team is determined to deliver a stronger showing this year.
They have been drawn in Group A, alongside Indonesia, Cambodia, and hosts Thailand.
As part of their preparations, the Lionesses will embark on a training camp in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during the October FIFA International Window. They will face the Saudi Arabia Women’s team in two friendlies on 25th and 29th October.
“Playing in the Asian Cup qualifiers was a great experience for us, but now the team’s focus is on our main objective this year – the SEA Games in Thailand,” said Coach Karim.
“With the WPL season now over, this trip allows us to play two international games, which is part of our preparation process leading up to December.”
Having previously travelled to the Middle East for a 10-day training camp last year, Coach Karim is keen to build on that experience and test his team.
“You need to look for a competitive opponent in preparation games, but you also have to factor in the individual and collective confidence of the team,” he explained.
“We have done a detailed analysis of Saudi Arabia, and they’ve clearly improved. They’ve invested a lot in their squad and have many foreign players and staff. They’re a competitive side, and it will be a good test for us.”
The friendlies will allow Bencherifa to continue refining his side’s tactical philosophy and test his players in different positions. More importantly, this also serves as an opportunity for the Moroccan to assess the intangibles in his squad.
“The attitude of your players is very important at a high level. When we play against top opposition like Iran and Jordan, we look at the temperament and resilience of the players,” he said.
“We want good players who are not only good technically and physically, but also those who add to the team’s values and think of the team first. These international matches are important when it comes to shaping our selection.”
Acknowledging the higher intensity of international football compared to the Women’s Premier League (WPL), Bencherifa stressed that his squad’s fitness levels will be key in bridging the gap.
However, a key challenge in the 57-year-old’s preparations is the absence of several players for the UAE trip due to varying commitments.
“One of the big challenges is the availability of players, but I look at it positively. When we have a smaller group, we can work more on improving their fitness and individual technique according to their positions,” said the 57-year-old.
Despite the hurdles, the Lionesses are still making steady strides. Like their upcoming trip to the UAE, every training session and match serves as a building block for Bencherifa’s side, ensuring the squad is at peak readiness ahead of the SEA Games.
“Once we are back and have our full squad, we will continue working on the overall team performance and tactics,” he said.
“We are also trying to schedule two international games in November before heading to Thailand for the SEA Games.”
