Singapore Women’s National Team Head Coach Mihoko Ishida has named a 23-player squad for the 2026 AFF Women’s Cup, where the Lionesses will take on Laos and hosts Malaysia in Group A as they look to build on the momentum generated during the Japanese coach’s first few months in charge.

Singapore begin their campaign against Laos on Monday, 13 July, before facing hosts Malaysia on Thursday, 16 July, with both matches taking place at Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium.

The tournament marks Ishida’s first major competition since taking over the national team, and while the squad largely retains the core from the previous international window, the 43-year-old believes the team is entering a new phase of its development.

“Our target is to reach the final,” said Ishida. “Right now, not only the players but also the staff are united, and we’ve prepared well. But our most important focus is the first match against Laos. Everyone is fully focused on that game, and we’re preparing ourselves step by step.”

For Ishida, preparation goes beyond tactical sessions. Since arriving in Singapore, she has sought to build a team capable of making its own decisions under pressure. “We’ve worked on specific tactics, but we don’t want the players to overthink,” she explained. “We’re training them to react instinctively and make good decisions. Football is unpredictable, so players have to decide for themselves. It’s about finding the right balance between structure and freedom.”

Just as importantly, she believes mentality will define Singapore’s progress. “Winning gave us confidence, while losing taught us important lessons,” she said, reflecting on the team’s recent international fixtures. “Every match is another opportunity to improve. The biggest thing we’re building is our mentality.”

The squad has an average age of just 21, highlighting Singapore’s continued commitment to developing young talent. Ishida admitted the statistic even caught her by surprise. “To be honest, I didn’t even know the average age until someone told me,” she said with a smile. “Every player has earned her opportunity, and these are the players I chose because I believe in them. I want our supporters to see each player’s strengths expressed on the pitch and enjoy the best performances they can produce.”

Among the new faces are Geylang International forward Naureen Qadriyah, the Women’s Premier League’s leading local scorer with 11 goals this season, and 18-year-old Mulan Ayliffe, who plays for Partizan Belgrade in Serbia and is in line for her senior international debut.

“This is my first time working with Mulan in the national team,” Ishida said. “She immediately showed how aggressive she is. She’s naturally left-footed, which gives us something different, and she works incredibly hard. I’m looking forward to seeing what she can contribute.”

While several players are hoping to earn their first senior caps, others have quietly established themselves as part of Singapore’s next generation. Nineteen-year-old goalkeeper Izairida Shakira is among them. Having made her senior debut over the past year, she says wearing the Singapore jersey remains just as special as the day she first received the call.

“I remember watching Singapore play at Jalan Besar Stadium and thinking, ‘I hope that’s me one day,'” she recalled. “When I finally got the call-up, even just sitting on the bench made me so happy. Representing Singapore is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I never take it for granted. I work for it every single day.”

The young goalkeeper admits her first international appearance was intimidating, but says each match has helped build her confidence. “When I made my debut, I was so nervous because one mistake as a goalkeeper can lead to a goal. But with every game you play, your confidence grows. If mistakes happen, you learn from them, move on and focus on the next match.”

Her journey to becoming a goalkeeper was unexpected. “I actually started out playing everywhere – striker, winger, left-back, almost every position,” she laughed. “One day my team needed a goalkeeper, so I stepped in. At first I didn’t want to play there, but over time people saw my potential.”

“Now I realise how important the position is because a goalkeeper is one of the backbones of the team. I’m glad my coaches believed in me because they saw something in me that I didn’t see myself.”

Off the pitch, balancing football with her studies has presented another challenge. “It wasn’t easy juggling school, training and travelling for competitions,” she said. “But my family and teachers have been incredibly supportive. Without them, it would’ve been much harder to manage everything.”

As Singapore’s youngest players continue to emerge, experienced midfielder Farhanah Ruhaizat believes the environment created under Ishida has allowed the squad to thrive. “The chemistry has always been there because so many of us have played together for years,” she said. “But under the new coaching staff, the football feels more comfortable and natural.”

“When we come into the dressing room, everyone is enjoying themselves, everyone is vibing, and we’re excited to get onto the pitch together.”

That positivity, she says, is rooted in the coaches’ approach. “The environment in camp is very positive. The coaches constantly encourage us and remind us to enjoy football because we play this game out of passion.”

“If you truly love something, you’ll always be excited to work hard for it.”

Like many members of the Lionesses squad, Farhanah continues to balance football alongside work, making every international camp a significant commitment. “It’s tiring because you’re managing work, recovery and training at the same time,” she admitted. “But passion keeps me going. Football is something I love deeply, so whenever I face setbacks—whether it’s injury, fatigue or disappointment—I always try to bounce back.”

Now one of the squad’s senior figures with more than 50 international appearances, Farhanah believes the younger players already understand the responsibility that comes with representing Singapore. “Once you receive a national team call-up, you know the standards are different,” she said. “You have to step up because you’re representing the flag.”

“The young players have really impressed me. They’re not just talented—they’re mature, they have the right attitude and they understand what it means to be here.”

She also sees leadership as an everyday responsibility. “As one of the senior players now, I know younger players are looking up to us, so I have to maintain my standards every day.”

“I learned that from players like Mazdura and Hamiza. Watching their passion, professionalism and positivity motivates me to set the same example for the next generation.”

Away from football, Farhanah believes mental wellbeing is just as important as physical preparation. “I’m not an expert, but I think everyone needs someone they can talk to,” she said. “Whether it’s a coach, family member, a friend or someone you trust, having someone to share your feelings with is one of the healthiest ways to deal with the pressures of football.”

For Ishida, that collective spirit has become one of the defining characteristics of the squad she has inherited. “What I’ve learned is that these players are not full-time professionals, yet they continue to work incredibly hard while balancing football with work and study,” she said. “They represent Singapore with genuine passion, and that inspires me every day.”

While acknowledging there remains a gap to the region’s leading teams, Ishida believes Singapore’s greatest strength lies in its willingness to improve.

“Of course we want to improve the players’ quality and ability, but we’re equally interested in helping them grow as footballers and as people,” she said. “There is still a gap in standards, and we recognise that. But rather than being discouraged, we see it as a challenge. Every training session, every match and every experience is another step forward.”

The Lionesses depart for Kuala Lumpur on Saturday before opening their AFF Women’s Cup campaign against Laos two days later. The tournament runs from 10 to 22 July, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals. The top three finishers will qualify for next year’s ASEAN Women’s Championship.

With a youthful squad, a renewed sense of belief and a coach intent on building both character and confidence, Singapore head into Kuala Lumpur determined not just to compete, but to continue laying the foundations for the future of the Lionesses.

Singapore’s AFF Women’s Cup 2026 group stage fixtures

Day & date	Match	Time	Venue
Monday, 13 July 2026	Singapore vs Laos	8.45pm	Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium
Thursday, 16 July 2026	Malaysia vs Singapore	4.45pm

Singapore Women’s National Team AFF Women’s Cup 2026 squad

S/N	Name	Pos	Caps	Goals	DOB	Club
1	Alysha Nasrina	GK	1	0	23-Oct-07	Lion City Sailors
2	Lamasan Chantale	GK	1	0	11-Jan-09	IMG Academy (USA)
3	Izairida Shakira	GK	12	0	2-Jun-07	Lion City Sailors
4	Dhaniyah Qasimah	DF	40	0	7-Jul-04	Lion City Sailors
5	Irsalina Irwan	DF	14	1	1-Jan-07	Lion City Sailors
6	Umairah Hamdan	DF	32	0	11-Mar-02	Lion City Sailors
7	Qarissa Putri	DF	11	0	24-Sep-08	Frenz Circuit GDT
8	Seri Nurinsyirah	DF	4	1	29-Jan-09	IMG Academy (USA)
9	Rosnani Azman	DF	57	2	22-May-97	Albirex Jurong
10	Yasmine Zaharin	DF	13	0	19-Mar-07	IMG Academy (USA)
11	Mulan Ayliffe	MF	0	0	10-May-08	Partizan Belgrade (SRB)
12	Venetia Lim	MF	27	1	14-Oct-03	Lion City Sailors
13	Kyra Taylor	MF	10	1	19-Jun-06	University of St Andrews (Scotland)
14	Lim Li Xian	MF	39	2	24-Nov-96	Tiong Bahru
15	Syazwani Ruzi	MF	44	1	20-Dec-01	Lion City Sailors
16	Ain Salleh	MF	2	0	7-Jan-10	Lion City Sailors
17	Sarah Zu’risqha	MF	12	4	24-Jul-06	Geylang International
18	Yuvika Suresh	MF	2	0	01-Mar-09	IMG Academy (USA)
19	Farah Nurzahirah	FW	12	1	13-Jan-04	Lion City Sailors
20	Naureen Qadriyah	FW	0	0	9-Jun-09	Geylang International
21	Farhanah Ruhaizat	FW	52	8	26-Jul-98	Geylang International
22	Danelle Tan	FW	28	10	25-Oct-04	Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Beleza (Japan)
23	Raeka Ee	FW	4	0	16-Sep-03	Lion City Sailors