The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) today announced that Karim Bencherifa has concluded his tenure as Head Coach of the Singapore Women’s National Team.

Under his leadership, the Lionesses recorded some of their most notable results in recent years, including emphatic 9-0 victories against Macau on 16 July 2024 and Seychelles on 25 November 2025 — results that stand as the Lionesses’ biggest wins in their history.

​​The team also qualified for the 2025 ASEAN Women’s Championship and claimed a SEA Games victory in 2023, while delivering competitive performances against top international opposition including DPR Korea, Iran, and Jordan, supported by a more professional backroom setup encompassing GPS monitoring, sports science support, video analysis and structured performance reporting.

Bencherifa joined FAS in February 2023 and assumed the role on 1 March 2023, succeeding former head coach Stephen Ng.

A familiar figure in Singapore football, the 58-year-old Moroccan had previously coached Tanjong Pagar United, Woodlands Wellington – whom he led to a third-placed league finish and the Singapore Cup final in 2005 – as well as Warriors FC. Across a coaching career spanning multiple countries, he has also gained experience in the women’s international game, having led the Morocco women’s national team in two separate spells.

During his time in charge, Bencherifa oversaw a period of transition for the Lionesses, with a strong emphasis on strengthening the national team pathway and integrating younger players into the senior setup. With an eye on grooming young talent, Bencherifa handed senior international debuts to 15 players during his tenure, with the squad drawing from Unleash The Roar! Overseas Scholarship recipients and the Women’s Premier League, while talents from the second-tier Women’s National League were also identified and given opportunities to train with the national team.

Reflecting on his time with the Lionesses, Bencherifa said: “Leading the Singapore Women’s National Team over the past three years has been a genuine privilege. We achieved notable results on the pitch, including a historic AFF tournament qualification, a SEA Games victory and a record 9-0 scoreline twice.

“One of my best memories is seeing young players step onto the international stage for the first time — when you show trust, give them confidence, and they rise to the occasion. Players like Farah Nurzahirah, Ardhra Arul, Cara Chang and Kyra Taylor all scored on their debuts, and these moments are also made possible by the unwavering support and trust of their parents, especially for the younger players.”

He added: “We also aimed to adopt more professional practices within the programme, from GPS monitoring and sports science support to video analysis and structured performance reporting, building a stronger foundation for the future. Alongside these results, we introduced a new generation of players — many of whom earned their first international caps — and built a stronger foundation for the future.

“This journey was about more than wins; it was about building belief, raising standards, and creating opportunities for the next generation. I leave with great confidence in the future of the Lionesses. I’m grateful to have been part of this journey, and I wish the new coach and the Lionesses the very best of luck.”

Bencherifa began his tenure as Lionesses head coach against Thailand in the Women’s Olympic Qualifiers in 2023. His final match in charge came against the same opponents, hosts of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, where the Lionesses produced a competitive performance in a 2-0 defeat.

Badri Ghent, General Secretary of FAS, said: “Karim has played an important role in the continued development of the Lionesses during his time with us. Beyond the results on the pitch, he has been instrumental in strengthening the pathway between our youth programmes and the senior national team, giving more young players the opportunity to train and compete at the highest level.

“On behalf of the association, I would like to thank Karim for his professionalism, commitment and contributions to Singapore women’s football, and we wish him every success in the next chapter of his coaching journey.”

The appointment of the new Head Coach of the Women’s National Team will be announced in due course.