Singapore delivers a major surprise to U23 Vietnam

The U23 Singapore squad mainly consists of players around the U20 age group for their clash against U23 Vietnam in the 2026 AFC U23 Championship qualifiers.

Recently, the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) officially announced the 23-player roster for the U23 Singapore team participating in the 2026 AFC U23 Championship qualifiers in Vietnam.

Notably, the U23 Singapore squad features many young players with an average age of just 20, including three 17-year-olds: Harith Danish, Luth Harith, and Rae Peh.

Additionally, the team includes experienced players from Singapore’s professional league such as Amir Syafiz and Andrew Aw, both having over 50 appearances at the top level. Forward Louka Tan-Vaissiere of Hougang United also stands out after winning the U21 SPL Golden Boot last season with 28 goals.

The lineup is further strengthened by overseas-based players including Jonan Tan, Muhammad Asis, and Khairin Nadim, who currently play for FC Vizela in Portugal.

Head coach Firdaus Kassim expressed satisfaction with the team’s progress during preparations and highlighted positive developments over recent weeks.

“The players have matured significantly and grown closer throughout the preparation period. We have worked hard to build resilience within the squad, and I feel encouraged by the improvements they have made. My expectations are clear: to compete fiercely in every situation.”

Looking ahead to the qualifiers, he added: “If we can maintain that level of performance on the pitch, I believe this team will show fans a style of play they can be proud of.”

U23 Singapore is grouped with U23 Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Yemen. They were also in the same group as U23 Vietnam during the 2024 AFC U23 qualifiers in 2023, where they drew with Vietnam in the final match.

Although considered the underdog, U23 Singapore’s strength remains an unknown factor for U23 Vietnam since they did not participate in the recent Southeast Asian U23 Championship. However, if they perform at their best, Coach Kim Sang Sik’s team should have no difficulty securing 3 points against this opponent.

Related articles

U23 Vietnam completes essential preparations before AFC U23 Championship On the morning of August 30, the U23 Vietnam team visited the Hung Temple Historical Site in Phu Tho Province to pay tribute to the Hung Kings – the forefathers who founded the nation. See more