At just 18, Izairida Shakira is growing into her role as a key figure for the Lionesses — calm under pressure, vocal from the back, and increasingly confident with each international challenge.
As Singapore prepares for their third match in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers, against hosts Jordan, Shakira’s voice and presence will likely again be central to how the team navigates the occasion. And she is embracing the experience.
“As a keeper I always have to deal with pressure,” she said.
“And I focus on staying in the game by doing my job — commanding, organising — it helps get the nerves out of the way.”
The Lionesses showed defensive organisation in their last outing against Iran, and for Shakira — who has been tested against some of the region’s best — the learning curve was steep but welcome.
“Iran was one of the toughest opponents I’ve faced, and it was quite nerve-wracking. Despite the outcome, I’ve learnt from my mistakes. Each game is a chance to grow — and that’s exactly what I’ll aim to do against Jordan,” she said.
Singapore’s next test will likely be just as demanding.
“We are facing another uphill task with Jordan who are even better in terms of quality, especially up front and in the flanks,” said Head Coach Karim Bencherifa.
“But we have a plan, and the players will likely break their own records in terms of total distance run and accelerations again, as they did against Iran — which shows they’ve given their all.”
Jordan opened their campaign with a 4-0 win over Lebanon and will be expected to take the initiative once more. Their key threats include 35-year-old captain Maysa Jbarah, who is her country’s most capped player and top goalscorer with 146 caps and 140 goals.
Despite the pressure, Shakira remains steady — channelling nerves into focus, and youth into leadership.
“The pressure may be overwhelming at times, but I use it to fuel my motivation and help the team,” she said.
“It’s like what our captain [Rosnani Azman] said to us: when we’re on the pitch, age doesn’t matter — everyone is equal. And it works for me, leading from the back is something I take pride in.”
And as the Lionesses gear up for another tough opponent, she is staying grounded in belief.
“We know that Jordan is a tough team to challenge, especially playing in your home country. They have a lot more to fight, but so do we. I hope I’m able to contribute in goal and keep the team’s players high. I hope that we can get the results that we can be proud of.”
Kick-off against Jordan is set for Sunday, 13 July 2025, 11.59pm SGT, at the King Abdullah II Stadium in Amman.
Follow our social media platforms for livestream details closer to matchday.
