After a 1–0 defeat in a hard-fought Women’s ‘A’ International against Saudi Arabia, the Singapore Women’s National Team will take on the same opponents this evening, Wednesday, 29 October, determined to regroup, stay focused, and give everything they can.
Lionesses Head Coach Karim Bencherifa saw enough mettle on the pitch in the previous match to fuel the faith that his players will be able to give their best in the second match hosted in the United Arab Emirates’ capital of Abu Dhabi.
“I have full belief in every player – their commitment and attitude make me confident we’ll give our best once again. Our build-up should be better, and we need to play without fear when in possession because we can do better,” said the 57-year-old.
This is despite his team having been hit by injuries and illness, forcing adjustments to training and preparation. Bencherifa is instead keeping his eyes on the horizon.
“Our key target is the SEA Games in December, and these matches are aimed at preparing us for that. It will always help to give our players competitive game time in an international match,” added Bencherifa who will have to make adjustments to his line up.
Of the 21-player squad, several players are unavailable due to injury or illness. Two – Danelle Tan and Sitianiwati Rosielin – were held for observation in hospital after being diagnosed with gastroenteritis, while four others – Hazel Lim, Elizabeth Tan, Elyssa Qistina, and Lioness captain Rosnani Azman – fell ill with vomiting and abdominal pain.
Among these four, Rosnani was also injured in the first match, along with Sharifah Nur Amanina. Kyra Taylor left the camp last Sunday (26 October) due to exams, and Lim Li Xian is currently recovering from the flu and a possible stomach-related illness. This leaves 12 players available for the Saudi Arabia fixture this evening (Singapore time).
Saudi Arabia climbed eight places to 166th in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking between August and December 2024, on the back of a successful women’s programme. They are currently 164th while Singapore occupy 149th spot in the standings.
“Despite these challenges, the team has shown an incredible spirit and strong togetherness in training. I have full belief in every player,” reiterated Bencherifa.
For midfielder Siti Wan Nabilah, returning to the international stage after six years, facing Saudi Arabia’s speed and physicality in the first game has only strengthened her determination to carry the lessons learned into tomorrow’s match.
“The [first] game was really intense and we were under quite a bit of pressure because our opponents were really fast and they were really physical. Building on from the last match, it’s about staying focused, disciplined, staying united and really improving on making the right decisions during key moments,” said the 32-year-old.
“We will work really hard to bring more composure and confidence into the next game,” she added.
The Lionesses’ second match against Saudi Arabia, at the 321 Sports Arena will kick off at 11pm Singapore Time.
