In the aftermath of a spirited but ultimately unsuccessful 2024 ASEAN Championship campaign, Singapore football fans have reason to feel a sense of renewed optimism about the future of the national team. Although the Lions fell to a 5-1 aggregate defeat against Vietnam in the semifinals, their valiant performances throughout the tournament offer hope that brighter days lie ahead under recently appointed head coach Tsutomu Ogura.
A Brave Semifinal Exit
Singapore’s ASEAN Championship journey may have reached its conclusion on Sunday, but not before they had captured the imagination of a nation with their combination of gritty determination and attacking endeavor. Facing a formidable Vietnam side, the Lions refused to go down without a fight, battling valiantly even as the 5-1 aggregate scoreline ultimately flattered their opponents.
It was a familiar refrain for Singapore, who had produced a similarly courageous display in their COVID-delayed 2020 semifinal against Indonesia. On that occasion, the Lions had come within a whisker of reaching the final despite playing with nine men for much of the second leg. While that defeat had galvanized Singaporean football, the departure of then-coach Tatsuma Yoshida mere days later had threatened to stall the team’s momentum.
The Ogura Era Begins
Enter Tsutomu Ogura. Appointed as Singapore’s new head coach at the start of the year following the ill-fated reign of Takayuki Nishigaya, the Japanese tactician faced his first major test at the 2024 ASEAN Championship. And while ultimate glory may have eluded his grasp this time, Ogura passed the examination comfortably if not quite with flying colors.
From the outset, Ogura has made clear his refusal to settle for mediocrity. Unafraid to acknowledge when performances have fallen short of expectations, he has emphasized that the team must earn the fans’ support through the quality of their displays rather than blind loyalty or obligation. Crucially, he has also demonstrated ambition, setting the target of winning every match at the ASEAN Championship even if the Lions are not yet genuine title contenders.
A Changing of the Guard
Perhaps most importantly, Ogura has shown a willingness to blood new talent – a vital attribute as Singapore football prepares for a changing of the guard. With inspirational captain Hariss Harun hinting that this may have been his final international tournament after 18 years of sterling service, and fellow stalwarts Safuwan Baharudin and Izwan Mahbud both now 34, the Lions are on the cusp of a new era.
The emergence of fresh faces like Hami Syahin, Shah Shahiran, and Kyoga Nakamura – the latter a recently naturalized citizen – bodes well for the future. While youngsters such as Lionel Tan and Glenn Kweh had their struggles during the tournament, the experience will prove invaluable as they mature. The impending returns of brothers Irfan, Ikhsan, and Ilhan Fandi, along with midfielder Song Ui-Young, will only strengthen the squad further.
The Road to Asian Cup 2027
As positive as the ASEAN Championship showing was, Singapore fans know all too well how fleeting such optimism can prove, with the side’s 2020 heroics having ultimately failed to usher in the anticipated new dawn. But in Ogura, there is hope that this time will be different. His team’s performances have earned sufficient credit for now, but the Japanese will be acutely aware that the Lions will be judged firmly on their upcoming results.
Thoughts will already be turning to March and the start of qualification for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. For a football-mad nation that hasn’t graced the continent’s biggest stage since hosting the tournament in 1984, the prospect of reaching the finals on merit for the first time ever represents the holy grail. Drawn alongside India, Hong Kong, and Bangladesh, Singapore has been presented with a golden opportunity to make history.
Should they do so, this ASEAN Championship campaign will rightly be remembered as the spark that reignited Singaporean football’s belief in a brighter future. Hariss and company have carried the torch with distinction, but the time has come to pass it to a new generation. Under Ogura‘s guidance, there is genuine cause for optimism that they can blaze a trail to unprecedented heights and begin a glorious new chapter in the Singapore football story.
