The members of the Cambodian squad are hopeful of a historic first win against Singapore. FFC
The Cambodian national football team is ready for a tough battle as they face hosts Singapore tonight in the second match of their Group A games at the 2024 ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup. The game will kick off at Singapore’s National Stadium at 6pm.
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Despite Cambodia’s impressive 2-2 draw against a strong Malaysian squad on December 8 – which broke a 53-year losing streak – the upcoming match against Singapore promises to be another challenging encounter.
Historically, Cambodia has struggled against Singapore. In the 14 encounters between the two since 1957, Cambodia has only managed a single draw – a 1-1 result at the Merdeka Tournament in 1957. In the 13 subsequent meetings, Cambodia has lost each time, including the most recent match, a 2-1 defeat in a friendly match in October 2018.
Coach Koji Gyotoku, who has been overseeing the team’s preparations, acknowledged the strength of the Singaporean team, describing them as equal to the Malaysian side.
This makes today’s match particularly difficult for Cambodia, but Koji remained confident in the ability of his players.
“Singapore is a strong team, and their level of play is similar to Malaysia’s, so we anticipate that facing Singapore will be a tough challenge for us,” he told a Tuesday press conference.
“Despite this, I have faith in our players, and they will give their best in this match,” he added.
The Cambodian national team trains in Singapore, ahead of tonight’s crucial Group A match against the hosts. FFC
For the past two days of training in Singapore, he has focused on refining the team’s finishing and reorganising their defensive setup to better prepare for the match.
Regardless of the upcoming challenge, the players are focused and highly motivated to take three points from Singapore.
During a recent training session, defenders Kan Mo and midfielder Kim Sokyuth spoke about the team’s preparations.
“We are fully prepared and just waiting for the match. We will play with all our strength. We encourage all our supporters in Singapore to come watch us, and for our fans back home in Cambodia, don't forget to watch the match live to cheer us on,” said Mo.
On the other side, Singaporean head coach Tsutomu Ogura also sees Cambodia as a strong team in Group A. He noted the addition of several recently naturalised players to the Cambodian squad, including striker Coulibaly Abdel Kader from Ivory Coast, Colombian forward Nieto Rondon and Japanese defenders Ose Takaki and Yudia Ogawa.
Hosts Singapore prepare to take on the Kouprey. SFA
“Every team in our group, including Cambodia, is strong. They’ve brought in several new players with dual nationality. I’ve watched some of their games, and I know this will be a tough match for us. But we will give our best to win every match, especially those at home,” he said.
“We’ve been preparing for this match for several months, and I want my players to showcase their abilities on the field tomorrow (Wednesday). It is important for us to play our style of football consistently throughout the match, regardless of the opponent,” he noted.
As both teams gear up for what promises to be a thrilling encounter, all eyes will be on the pitch as Cambodia seeks to break more records and secure a crucial victory against one of Southeast Asia's strongest teams.
