The Singapore Women’s National Team fell 2–0 to Thailand on Wednesday, 10 December, in their final Group A SEA Games match. The result means the Lionesses finish bottom of the group – behind Indonesia and group winners Thailand – and will not qualify for the semi-finals.
But the performance of the Singapore women at the Chonburi Stadium , against a Thai side that has multiple FIFA Women’s World Cup campaigns under their belt, reflected a growing steadiness within the team, a clearer manifestation of team structure and an ability to execute on a game plan. While he rued the defeat, the fact that this was Singapore’s best result against Thailand since 2007 was not lost on Head Coach Karim Bencherifa.
“It’s always tough to play a strong Thailand side on their home ground, but the girls showed real character. I’m proud of the team’s resilience — it’s a work in progress, and the team should keep pushing with the same spirit toward future tournaments,” said Bencherifa, of his squad that has an average age of 22.6 years.
“We lost 6–0 in 2023 and 4–0 last year, and Thailand beat Indonesia 8–0 in their first group match — so the 2-0 result is our best head-to-head result against them since 2007.
“Both goals came from headers — which is admittedly an area we need to improve — one from a corner, and keeping a clean sheet in the second half was a big positive.”,” Bencherifa said.
Thailand struck early, punishing two brief lapses. A loose pocket of space down the right allowed captain Sunisa Srangthaisong — who plies her trade in Singapore’s Women’s Premier League with Still Aerion — to whip in a cross for Chetthabutr Kanyanat to head home in the ninth minute.
Nine minutes later, 2023 top scorer Orapin Wanngoen, who was the top scorer in Singapore’s Women’s National League in 2023, doubled the lead after some hesitation in the Singapore defence.
The Lionesses responded with grit, repelling the Thais in a show of resolute defending.
Despite nine changes from their previous match against Indonesia, Thailand controlled possession and launched repeated attacks. Singapore’s backline stayed organised and compact, with midfielders tracking back to lend their weight to the cause , in a system that helped the Lionesses disrupt Thailand’s build-up play and force errors.
Singapore’s 18-year-old goalkeeper, Izairida Shakira, was a steady presence behind the Lionesses lines of defence.
She directed her teammates and made several key saves in the second half to prevent the Thailand side from running riot in front of their home fans. Despite the result, she viewed her first SEA Games campaign as a valuable learning experience.
“The whole team showed grit and learnt from every challenge. When someone was down, we supported them and we kept fighting until the last whistle,” said Shakira.
“While we were hoping for better results, especially after what happened against Indonesia, I think we can go home with our heads held high, knowing we gave our all.”
Since her senior debut as a substitute in December 2023, Shakira has grown to become one of the Lionesses’ most trusted players — starting in her club Lion City Sailors’ maiden AWCL campaign, playing full minutes in Singapore’s Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers in Jordan, and completing her first SEA Games in full. Facing some of the strongest teams in the region within a year has been a steep learning curve.
“Every time I go into a match, I get very nervous, which is normal — against Thailand it was no different. But I try to redirect that energy and focus on commanding the defence. When I’m not commanding, I just breathe in and out. These experiences, though challenging, help me improve,” said Shakira who paid tribute to the support structure in the Singapore squad.
“Both [Lioness captain Rosnani Azman] and my Sailors captain, Umairah Hamdan, are defenders. They always emphasise that communication and confidence are crucial, especially for me as a goalkeeper with a view of the whole game.
The support from everyone on the team helps a lot. Everyone is willing to learn from one another and help each other,” she said. She also highlighted guidance from her goalkeeping coach and fellow ‘keeper buddies, Lamasan Chantale and Elizabeth Tan, as key pillars during the SEA Games campaign.
Taking these lessons into 2026, Shakira is focused on continuing her growth and helping the team improve whenever called up. “Every day, I’m trying to fight for the No. 1 spot with my teammates, so I wouldn’t call myself a starter. There’s always room for improvement — my main focus is to learn, grow, and develop,” she said.
“My goal remains the same: I just hope the team feels safe with me at the back and has confidence when I’m there. I want to keep building trust with my teammates and contribute to the team’s progress in future tournaments.”
