Faris Ramli, known for his speed and skill, showcased his ability in the group stage with a stunning curling goal against Thailand to make it 2-0. Although Singapore eventually lost 2-4 under Thailand’s relentless pressure, the match highlighted their counter-attacking ability.
At 32 years old and 1.68 m tall, Ramli has scored 15 goals in 86 appearances, making him one of Singapore's most experienced players.
Shawal Anuar, a striker with a similar style to Ramli, has been in fine form. The 33-year-old leads the 2024 ASEAN Cup in goals with four, including a brace against Timor Leste and one each against Cambodia and Thailand. Anuar caused problems for Vietnam in the previous tournament, particularly during a goalless draw at Jalan Besar Stadium, where he and Ramli challenged Vietnam's defense.
Vietnam head coach Kim Sang-sik acknowledged Anuar's threat at the pre-match press conference, noting his ability to play on the artificial grass pitch.
The creative engine behind Singapore's quick counters is Kyoga Nakamura, 28, a naturalized Japanese midfielder (number 7). Nakamura, who became a Singaporean citizen in October, brings a level of technical ability and composure that sets him apart from older, defensive-minded midfielders like Shahdan Sulaiman and Hariss Harun.
Nakamura's vision and ability to distribute the ball quickly make him crucial to Singapore's attack. In addition to Nakamura, Singapore can also use long passes from goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud and defender Muhammad Baharudin.
Abdul Rasaq Akeem (R), a 23-year-old striker of Nigerian heritage, is also a notable name on the offense with his pace and agility and Ryhan Stewart, a full-back born in Wales.
Jordan Emaviwe, a towering 1.95 m center-back of Nigerian descent, is a set-piece threat, capable of troubling Vietnam's defense in aerial duels.
Veterans like Hariss Harun bring experience to the squad. Harun, Singapore's captain and most-capped player, has participated in seven ASEAN Cups and won the championship in 2012. Harun will give his all in this tournament to have a great ending to his international football career.
Center-back Muhammad Baharudin (C), the only Singaporean currently playing abroad for Malaysian club Selangor, excels in aerial battles but will face a tough test against Vietnam's Brazilian naturalized striker Nguyen Xuan Son.
Singapore's head coach Tsutomu Ogura, Singapore's third consecutive Japanese manager, has brought tactical discipline and experience to the team. From 1990 to 1992, he worked in youth training for German club Werder Bremen, before returning to Japan where he became an assistant coach for Japan national and Olympic teams, as well as J1 League clubs.
Ogura led Singapore to a notable 2-2 draw against China in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Under his guidance, Singapore defeated arch-rival Malaysia to secure a semifinal spot for the second time in three recent tournaments.
At their Wednesday training session at Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore focused on defending threats from above as their goalkeepers generally under 1.8 m tall and struggling against aerial plays.
