The Singapore Women’s National Team will return to international action this month, kicking off a crucial stretch in their preparations for the 2025 SEA Games with two Women’s ‘A’ International Matches against Seychelles. The first fixture will take place behind closed doors on Tuesday, 25 November 2025, before both sides meet again three days later at Bukit Gombak Stadium at 7.30pm, their final home appearance of the year, with ticketing details to be announced soon.

It will be the Lionesses’ first meeting with the 174th-ranked Seychelles since 2022, when Singapore recorded a 6–2 victory. This time, the match-up carries added intrigue, with Seychelles led by former Singapore international Chris Yip-Au, a player familiar with the local playing landscape and the foundations of Singaporean women’s football.

For Head Coach Karim Bencherifa, the double-header is about more than results. With the SEA Games in Chonburi, Thailand looming next month, where Singapore will face hosts Thailand, Cambodia, and Indonesia in Group A, these matches represent the final stage of refinement.

“These two matches are an important part of our final preparation phase as we build momentum and confidence for our SEA Games campaign next month. Our main goal is to consolidate the work we’ve done,” said Bencherifa. “We want to test certain combinations, strengthen our team identity, and ensure that every player clearly understands her role.”

He also highlighted the challenge that Seychelles will bring under familiar leadership. “We have great respect for Chris and the work she’s doing with Seychelles. The team has improved significantly under her, and her understanding of the Singaporean style makes this matchup even more interesting,” he noted. “We expect a disciplined, hardworking team that will try to make things difficult for us. For us, it’s about staying focused on our own structure and applying our principles consistently throughout both matches.”

Bencherifa has overseen a period of steady growth, one marked by breakthrough moments and competitive performances despite the realities of a largely amateur environment. “There have been ups and downs, but I put the most pressure on myself. My staff and I work tirelessly to give the best for the girls, but while our approach is professional, the environment is amateur,” he said. “The players make sacrifices, they don’t have football 24 hours a day, we can’t train morning and afternoon, and players have leave issues, exams and studies. It’s not a complaint: it’s reality.”

Yet results and performances have reflected resilience. The team earned a historic 6–0 win over Macau, qualified for the AFF tournament podium, and competed strongly in World Cup and Asian Games fixtures, even holding DPR Korea to 1–0 at half-time. “What matters most is that the girls and I always give our best,” said Bencherifa. “The SEA Games is a big tournament for Singapore and we want the required results and performance.”

He also acknowledged the growing number of players gaining experience overseas: something that strengthens the squad even if availability is sometimes fragmented. “To improve women’s football, we need the league to grow and the pool of players to be bigger. Right now, the pool is small and only two or three teams are competitive. With strategic decisions and support, the national team will grow,” he added.

And to the doubters, he offered measured perspective. “I wish more people came to watch. Many who comment have never seen us play. Our players give 100%. Fans must be realistic, understanding and supportive, the girls give everything they can.”

For defender Rosnani Azman, the coming campaign carries a deeply personal weight. The SEA Games has been a driving force for her, especially since the passing of her father in 2023. “He told me to trust myself and see how it goes, that if I’m doing something right, something good will come out of it,” she reflected. “The past three years have been pretty good. Of course, there are times where I break down and cry, but I pick myself up. Football has always been peaceful for me, something I can fall back on. Whenever I step onto the pitch, I can forget everything.”

Discipline and consistency, she said, remain her foundation. “Once I start something, I won’t stop unless I’m forced to, so I just give my best, put in the work, and prepare hard.”

With a squad still dominated by part-time players, she acknowledges the challenges, including during the recent training camp in Saudi Arabia where numbers were limited. “Even though we lost both games, the players kept fighting, running, and playing. There are always things to learn and we will push ourselves further.”

But her message is grounded and pragmatic. “It’s normal to be sad when you lose, but you can’t dwell on it for too long. Take the good things, take the things you need to improve, and make sure you don’t repeat the same mistakes.”

Her captain-like tone extends to the rising generation. “To be a footballer, the desire has to come from within. For us senior players, we try to guide them… the intensity will be high and they’ll have to cope, but they won’t be alone.”

Her ambition for Chonburi is clear and unapologetic. “My expectation is to lead the team to the semi-finals at the SEA Games. We take one game at a time — first Cambodia, then build momentum from there.”

And she hopes Singapore will see the team for who they truly are. “It’s very difficult when people doubt the women’s team because they don’t know what we are going through. We all have jobs and we commit as much as we can. I think it would help if people come to watch our games and see our potential.”

If Rosnani represents experience, forward Chloe Koh embodies the next wave, a young talent balancing national duty with her development at IMG Academy in the United States. “Faith is important to me. I believe God has planned what He wants for me — it’s not about what I want. Whatever I can’t control, I leave aside. I focus on what I can do and trust in my abilities and His abilities.”

Her family has been her anchor. “My mum has been a constant presence and I’m grateful for that. With my younger sister Celine playing too, I hope one day I get to play with her in the national team.”

At IMG, the environment is structured and driven, but playing for Singapore carries a different weight. “In Singapore, it’s serious business: focused, no goofing around. International games are even more serious. It’s about managing different expectations.”

Recent matches in Saudi Arabia tested her adaptability. “In the first game, I played as a 10, something I hadn’t done for the national team. In the second game, I played central midfield, which I had never done. With only 14 players, playing 90 minutes in a new role was a mental test and good exposure.”

The SEA Games will be her first, and she intends to embrace it. “I want to experience it, soak it in, and if I get the chance to contribute on the field, I’ll grab it and give my best.”

She believes in the group, and in what belief can become. “Results matter, but they aren’t everything. Progress matters too, and we have come a long way as a team. Hopefully results go our way, but if not, I know the effort will produce something eventually. I have faith in the team.”

As Singapore football continues to grow on pitches, in schools, in clubs, and across communities, the Lionesses hope that momentum is matched in the stands. “We’re very grateful for the support we’ve received every time we play at home; we feel the energy from the fans, and it truly motivates the players,” said Bencherifa. “As we head into the SEA Games, we want to make Singapore proud through our hard work, discipline, and fighting spirit. I hope our supporters continue to believe in this team and follow our journey closely.”

For the Lionesses, the upcoming matches against Seychelles are more than tune-ups, they are a statement of intent, a final sharpening, and a reminder of how far the women’s game has come, and how far it still aims to go.