The Lions return to the National Stadium on Oct 9 (Thursday) at 7.30pm for a pivotal AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers tie against India – the first leg of a double-header that concludes in Goa on Oct 14.
It is also interim head coach Gavin Lee’s first competitive outing in the campaign as he seeks to build on the platform laid by predecessor Tsutomu Ogura.
Singapore top Group C with four points from two matches, level with Hong Kong, but ahead on goal difference, after June’s 2–1 away win over Bangladesh.
India and Bangladesh sit on one point apiece.
With only the group winner guaranteed a place at Saudi Arabia 2027, Thursday’s fixture is a chance for the Lions (FIFA ranking: 158) to widen the gap on the Blue Tigers (134) and keep qualification in their own hands.
“This September window was about preparing ourselves for these two important matches against India,” said Lee. “There were positives we’ll build on, and lessons we’ve taken away. We believe this squad understands what qualification means for Singapore football. Now it’s up to us to prepare well and deliver.”
Captain Hariss Harun returns after missing September through injury, bringing leadership and calm in midfield at a crucial juncture.
Lee has also rewarded domestic form by handing maiden senior call-ups to Young Lions playmaker Ong Yu En (21) and 19-year-old forward Jonan Tan (FC Vizela, Portugal). Defender Raoul Suhaimi earns a recall.
“These first call-ups are not just about the present, but about building for the future. It is important to keep inspiring the next generation,” Lee added.
A likely Singapore XI keeps the 4-2-3-1/4-3-3 hybrid that has underpinned recent improvements: Izwan Mahbud behind a back four marshalled by Safuwan Baharudin and Lionel Tan, with Hariss anchoring alongside Jacob Mahler or Hami Syahin; wide speed and pressing from Shawal Anuar and either Ikhsan or Ilhan Fandi leading the line.
India’s reset and returning leaders
New India head coach Khalid Jamil arrives buoyed by a bronze at the CAFA Nations Cup, where his side beat higher-ranked Tajikistan and Oman, but he knows the margins are thin.
“We are not looking too far ahead — the next one against Singapore is the most important,” he said. “It won’t be easy away from home. We must be patient, concentrate on our strategies and play according to the situation.”
India have recalled icons Sunil Chhetri and centre-back Sandesh Jhingan. Chhetri’s movement and penalty-box craft remain vital for a team that has struggled for goals since late 2023, while Jhingan’s physical presence steadies a defence that faces Singapore’s aerial threat and transition pace.
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu is set to start in goal after heroics in CAFA, with Brandon Fernandes and Sahal Abdul Samad tasked to supply width and final-third invention.
Expect Jamil to toggle between a compact 4-4-2 out of possession and a 4-2-3-1 with the ball, asking Udanta Singh and Lallianzuala Chhangte to attack Singapore’s full-backs.
What will decide it
Midfield control: Hariss’s screening and distribution versus Brandon/Sahal’s pockets of space between the lines. If Singapore can compress central zones and force India wide, the Lions’ centre-backs can dominate crosses.
Set-pieces: With both teams well-drilled, dead balls could swing it. Safuwan, Lionel Tan and Ikhsan are targets for Singapore; India rely on Jhingan’s near-post aggression and Chhetri’s instincts.
Transitions: Lee’s side are at their best when they counter quickly through Shawal and the Fandi brothers. India must protect their full-backs and counter-press second balls.
Game management: Jamil has preached patience; expect India to slow phases, draw fouls and wait for moments. Singapore, at home, must balance ambition with control, avoiding over-commitment that exposes channels behind their full-backs.
Form, confidence and context
Singapore’s June win in Dhaka injected belief, and Lee’s September tune-ups were designed to sharpen patterns rather than overhaul systems.
The National Stadium’s pitch size and atmosphere suit the Lions’ structured possession into quick vertical surges.
India’s CAFA run restored morale, but they enter bottom of the group; anything less than four points across the double-header likely leaves them chasing miracles.
Goalkeeper Gurpreet framed India’s mindset simply: “We respect Singapore, but we step onto the pitch with only one goal — to win at all costs.”
For the Lions, veteran voices echo a similar edge; Hariss’s return is as much about standards as tactics.
A writer’s view
Singapore football journalist Gary Koh sees a tight, tactical contest. “Under Gavin Lee they’ll lean into a possession-passing game and the tested 4-2-3-1/4-3-3, relying on experience like Izwan and Hariss. If the forwards click, Singapore are well-placed to finish among the top two. India are no slouches — a draw at home keeps Singapore in a good position for Saudi Arabia 2027.”
Author and superfan A Thiyaga Raju said it will be a 2-1 victory for the Lions.
“I am looking forward to seeing India’s veteran ace striker Sunil Chhetri in action against the Lions,” he said. “Chhetri has played in 155 matches for India (captain in many) and scored 95 goals — ranking at the top alongside the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. It will be interesting to see how he fares against the Lions in front of a vociferous crowd.
“For India, this is a must‑win match if they are to stay in contention. A draw may not be sufficient, depending on the other results. For Singapore, as group leaders, a positive result (win or draw) strengthens their position. Going into the home leg, they’d prefer to build a cushion.”
Key battles to watch
Safuwan/Lionel Tan v Chhetri: denying slips across the line and late box runs.
Ryhan Stewart v Lallianzuala Chhangte: pace on pace down Singapore’s right.
Hariss/Mahler v Sahal/Brandon: control of second balls and tempo.
The bottom line
With Group C finely balanced, Thursday feels bigger than a mid-campaign fixture: a result that either cements Singapore’s surge toward a first-ever Asian Cup Finals or reopens the door for India’s revival.
Lee has blended continuity with youthful energy; Jamil brings clarity and leaders back into the XI. Under the Kallang lights, the margins will be slim, the details decisive — and the prize, potentially historic.
Kick-off: Thursday, Oct 9, 2025, 7.30pm, National Stadium, Kallang.
Return leg: Tuesday, Oct 14, 2025, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Goa.
SINGAPORE SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Izwan Mahbud, Rudy Khairullah, Syazwan Buhari
Defenders: Amirul Adli, Irfan Najeeb, Safuwan Baharudin, Raoul Suhaimi, Ryhan Stewart, Lionel Tan
Midfielders: Joel Chew, Farhan Zulkifli, Jared Gallagher, Hami Syahin, Hariss Harun, Glenn Kweh, Jacob Mahler, Kyoga Nakamura, Ong Yu En, Shah Shahiran, Song Uiyoung, Harhys Stewart, Jonan Tan
Forwards: Jordan Emaviwe, Ikhsan Fandi, Ilhan Fandi, Shawal Anuar
INDIA SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Amrinder Singh, Gurmeet Singh, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.
Defenders: Anwar Ali, Hmingthanmawia Ralte, Muhammed Uvais, Pramveer, Rahul Bheke, Sandesh Jhingan.
Midfielders: Brandon Fernandes, Danish Farooq Bhat, Deepak Tangri, Macarton Louis Nickson, Mahesh Singh Naorem, Nikhil Prabhu, Sahal Abdul Samad, Udanta Singh Kumam.
Forwards: Farukh Choudhary, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Liston Colaco, Rahim Ali, Sunil Chhetri, Vikram Partap Singh.
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5 Oct 2025 19:54
