Singapore provisional squad for AFF Suzuki Cup 2020 announced

Twenty-seven players have been called up to the Singapore men’s national football team provisional squad by head coach Tatsuma Yoshia for the AFF Suzuki Cup 2020. 

The tournament takes place in Singapore from Dec 5, 2021 to Jan 1, 2022. The Lions are in Group A, alongside Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Brunei or Timor Leste. 

Among the 27 players, 12 hail from the Lion City Sailors, including Lions captain Hariss Harun. 

Young Lions are the next most represented team in the squad with four players, followed by Hougang United with three, Geylang International and Tanjong Pagar United with two each, and then Tampines Rovers with one player. 

No Balestier Khalsa players were selected. 

There are also five players based overseas, including brothers Ikhsan and Irfan Fandi, included. 

Nine players – Zharfan Rohaizad, Nur Adam Abdullah, Iqram Rifqi, Tajeli Salamat, Saifullah Akbar and recently naturalised Song Uiyoung – could be participating in the AFF Suzuki Cup for the first time. 

Two players, Hami Syahin and Ilhan Fandi, are on the standby list. 

Notable names who have been dropped include Tampines trio Baihakki Khaizan, Madhu Mohana and Yasir Hanapi, who wore the captain’s armband in the absence of Hariss Harun in the World Cup Qualifiers in June. 

The Singapore squad will commence centralised training from Oct 25, two weeks after the Singapore Premier League season ends. Opportunities for friendly matches and a training camp are being explored as part of preparations and details will be announced when finalised, said the Football Association of Singapore (FAS).

FAS added that up to 30 players can be registered for the tournament. The deadline to confirm the squad is in end-November.

The full squad list is as follows:

Goalkeepers: Hassan Sunny (Lion City Sailors), Izwan Mahbud (Hougang United), Syazwan Buhari (Tampines Rovers), Zharfan Rohaizad (Tanjong Pagar United) 

Defenders: Amirul Adli, Nur Adam Abdullah, Tajeli Salamat (Lion City Sailors), Iqram Rifqi (Geylang International), Irfan Fandi (BG Pathum United), Jacob Mahler, Zulqarnaen Suzliman (Young Lions), Nazrul Nazari (Hougang United), Shakir Hamzah (Tanjong Pagar United), Safuwan Baharudin (Selangor FC)

Midfielders: Adam Swandi, Harris Harun, Saifullah Akbar, Shahdan Sulaiman, Song Uiyoung, (Lion City Sailors), M Anumanthan (Kedah FC), Hami Syahin* (Young Lions), Zulfahmi Arifin (Sukhothai FC)

Forwards: Amy Recha (Geylang International), Faris Ramli, Gabriel Quak, Hafiz Nor (Lion City Sailors), Ikhsan Fandi (FK Jerv), Ilhan Fandi* (Young Lions), Shawal Anuar (Hougang United)