The Lion City Sailors will take on Thai League 1 side Muangthong United in the 2024/25 Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two’s Round of 16.
This was confirmed earlier this afternoon (12 December) following the tournament’s Knockout Stage draw which took place in the AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Having defeated Port FC twice en route to a historical qualification for the ACL Two’s last 16, the Sailors will take on another Thai opponent in the form of Muangthong.
The Twin Qilins were on the brink of elimination after collecting only two points from three group matches, but remarkably recovered to win their next three to finish second behind South Korea’s Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in Group H.
Having finished top of a group featuring Thailand’s Port FC, China’s Zhejiang Professional, and Indonesia’s Persib Bandung, the Sailors have developed a strong sense of belief within their ranks.
“I think my boys showed incredible mental and physical strength to secure a fantastic ending to our ACL Two group stage,” said the Serb.
“Considering the quality of the teams we played against, finishing at the top of the group is a truly special achievement. I hope everyone is proud of this team — not just Sailors fans, but all of Singapore. We’ve put Singapore on the Asian football map. Now, we’ll recharge, prepare for the next challenges, and stay motivated to compete against the best.”
The Sailors will play the first leg in Thailand on either 12 or 13 February 2025, before returning home to host the second leg on 19 or 20 February.
Should the Sailors progress, they will face either Japan’s Sanfreece Hiroshima or Vietnam’s Nam Dinh FC in the quarter-finals scheduled for March 2025.
