Singapore Loses to Nepal in 1-0 Friendly Defeat ahead of Asian Cup Qualifier

World No. 160 Singapore suffered a shocking 1-0 loss to 175th-ranked Nepal in a friendly match at the National Stadium on 21 March 2025.

The defeat marked the first time Singapore has lost to Nepal in four games, raising concerns ahead of their Asian Cup qualifier against Hong Kong on 25 March 2025.

Nepal’s Historic Victory Stuns Singapore Football Fans

In front of 5,078 spectators, Nepal caught Singapore’s defence off guard with a counterattack in the 12th minute.

Manish Dangi delivered a cross for Gillespye Jung Karki, who netted his third goal in 12 international appearances. The goal sent the approximately 600 Nepal fans in attendance into celebrations.

This victory was significant for Nepal, who had previously lost 12-0 across three encounters with Singapore in the 1980s, with one match ending in a draw.

The win will boost Nepal’s confidence as they prepare for their own Asian Cup qualifier against Malaysia on 25 March 2025, just three weeks after appointing Matthew Ross as their new coach.

Singapore midfielder Harhys Stewart had a penalty claim dismissed by referee Yusuke Ohashi after being fouled in the box by Rohit Chand in the 17th minute, reported The Straits Times.

Apart from a few hopeful crosses and a shot from Ryhan Stewart in the 21st minute, the Lions failed to test Nepal goalkeeper and captain Kiran Chemjong.

The Lions’ best opportunity came in the 68th minute when Christopher van Huizen’s cross was headed on by Ilhan Fandi for Faris Ramli, whose close-range shot was saved by Chemjong.

Singapore was denied another possible penalty in the 79th minute when Abhishek Limbu appeared to handle the ball following Harhys’ long throw.

In the closing stages, Harhys saw a point-blank shot blocked by Chemjong in the 89th minute, while Faris’ free kick grazed the crossbar in added time.

Coach Ogura Said It’s The “Worst Performance” as Lions Face Hong Kong Challenge

Singapore coach Tsutomu Ogura did not mince words in his assessment of the team’s performance, calling it the “worst game” during his tenure, even worse than the 7-0 defeat to South Korea.

“If we play like this, we cannot win against any team. In my one year here, this is the worst game we have played, more so than the 7-0 loss to South Korea,” the 58-year-old Japanese coach stated.

Ogura criticised the team’s lack of cohesion and fighting spirit.

He said that Nepal treated this friendly match like a competitive, real game, while the Singapore team “played individually and not as a team”.

The coach took full responsibility for the poor showing. “When the team’s performance is not good and they cannot show our concept, it is my responsibility because I pick the players and decide how they play,” Ogura admitted.

For the match against Nepal, Ogura fielded only five players from the starting lineup that faced Vietnam in the ASEAN Championship semi-finals.

Notably, in-form striker Shawal Anuar was the only player left out of the 23-player match-day squad, suggesting Ogura was experimenting ahead of the Hong Kong fixture.

Singapore will face 155th-ranked Hong Kong in their Group C opener of the Asian Cup qualifiers on 25 March 2025.