Singapore concluded their AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifying campaign with a narrow 0–1 defeat to Lebanon on Saturday evening (19 July), in a match that saw the Lionesses hold their own for long stretches before Lebanon found the breakthrough in the second half.
Singapore fell to four defeats in as many games in a challenging Group A campaign hosted in the Jordanian capital of Amman.
While results did not go Singapore’s way, Head Coach Karim Bencherifa found a silver lining, pointing encouraging signs of growth throughout the campaign despite challenges like injuries, limited squad depth, and disrupted momentum.
“This was a mentally demanding tournament, but our players stood strong,” he said. “Even after setbacks, they remained focused and motivated, with no sense of giving up. They supported each other well and treated every game as a learning opportunity.”
This was well illustrated in Saturday’s clash against Lebanon.
The opening half was evenly matched, with both sides sharing possession and creating opportunities. Lebanon’s front three — Layla Iskandar, Christy Maalouf, and Syntia Salha — posed a constant threat, forcing Singapore’s defence and goalkeeper Izairida Shakira into key interventions. Despite the pressure, the Lionesses held firm to keep the Lady Cedars to a goalless first half.
“We wanted to play proactively and create chances, that’s why we pressed high and went with a 4-4-2 formation. We succeeded in doing that, especially in the first half when we had the energy — and we managed to carve out a few half chances,” said Bencherifa in the post-match flash interview.
The second half saw Lebanon grow into the game. In the 53rd minute, Syntia rattled the crossbar, and ten minutes later, Layla skipped past two defenders before delivering a cross that led to the decisive goal. Despite the Lionesses digging deep to find an equaliser, Lebanon held on to secure a 1-0 victory.
Bencherifa noted that Lebanon’s quality — with players based across Europe, the Middle East and Australia, — eventually made the difference.
“As the second half went on, Lebanon started to dominate more — especially through key players like Christy, who plays in France; Layla in Saudi Arabia; Syntia in Cyprus; and Tiana in Australia. They have really quality players competing at a high level,” he said.
Bencherifa highlighted fitness and player availability as key areas for improvement as the Lionesses look to build on the Amman experience.
“Most goals we conceded came late in matches, which is something we’re reviewing seriously. Many players juggle football with work, study, and family commitments, limiting consistent training,” he said.
“To progress, we must better support them in physical preparation and recovery.”
Captain Rosnani Azman, who earned her 50th international cap against Lebanon, to become the third most-capped female footballer in Singapore, behind Noor Kusumuwati (51 caps) and Ernie Sulastri (58 caps).
“It means a lot to me — getting 50 caps wasn’t easy.I’m just glad I got to do it with the team,” said the 28-year-old.
“After back-to-back losses, it’s always hard to keep going. But we stayed together and kept fighting till the 90th minute. It’s not the result we wanted, but we’ll take the lessons from this campaign and keep moving forward.”
