Scheduling clash threatens Singapore’s 2024 AFF Championship campaign
Singapore’s potential performance at the 2024 Asean Football Federation (AFF) Championship faces a considerable obstacle, as a scheduling clash has arisen between the tournament dates and the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) new club competitions. The AFF has confirmed that the Asean Mitsubishi Electric Cup, involving ten teams, will take place from Nov 23 to Dec 21, directly overlapping with the AFC’s top-tier AFC Champions League (ACL) Elite and AFC Champions League 2 fixtures.
The ACL Elite, featuring match days on Nov 25-27 and Dec 2-4, will showcase prominent clubs like Malaysia Super League winners Johor Darul Takzim and the champions of the Thai League 1. Meanwhile, the ACL 2, scheduled for Nov 26-28 and Dec 3-5, will include teams from Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Singapore’s Lion City Sailors, with the potential for additional representatives from Tampines Rovers and Indonesia’s Liga 1 winners through play-offs.
Notably, clubs from Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Brunei, and Timor-Leste, competing in the third-tier AFC Challenge League, will not encounter scheduling conflicts with the Asean Cup.
The absence of the FIFA international window during the Asean Championship allows clubs to retain their players, potentially causing key stars to miss the biennial tournament, similar to Thailand’s experience in 2022 with missing attacking duo Supachai Chaided and Suphanat Muenta from Buriram.
Singapore National Team captain Hariss Harun emphasized the impact of this clash, particularly for Singapore, given the country’s limited talent pool. He stressed the importance of showcasing progress under new coach Tsutomu Ogura in the Asean Cup, aligning with the club’s goal of achieving success in the ACL 2 for enhanced rankings in AFC club competitions.
The Lion City Sailors’ representative echoed these sentiments, recognizing the value of both competitions for Singapore’s football development. With a substantial portion of the club’s first-team potentially also representing the national team, the current situation could put Singapore and the Sailors at a significant disadvantage compared to other Asean nations and clubs. Finding a resolution to allow participation in both the Asean Cup and ACL 2 without compromise is deemed crucial by the club.
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