Lee Calls for Calm Heads as Lions Prepare for ASEAN Hyundai Cup™ 2026 Opener

Singapore coach Gavin Lee is urging his side to show greater composure and consistency as the Lions kick off their ASEAN Hyundai Cup™ 2026 Group A campaign against Cambodia in Phnom Penh on Friday.

The four-time ASEAN champions—whose last title came in 2012—enter the tournament buoyed by their recent qualification for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 finals. Yet Lee insists there is still room for improvement as his team looks to make a deep run in the regional showpiece.

“We always want to evaluate ourselves based on our performances,” said Lee. “Comparing what we've done in the past with the qualification and what's ahead of us, I think what’s very important for us is that we are getting more consistent during the big moments.

“Oftentimes, we allow certain situations to impact what we do next, and we know that, going forward, those kinds of behaviours have got to be better. We've got to be calm and consistent, like we often reiterate within us.

“I think this competition is a fantastic test for that because you play against teams that are very motivated and want the same thing as you, and the environment is just another added stimulus that we have to deal with.

“So in this competition we'll be looking at, amongst many things, how we respond to difficult situations, how we respond to undesired actions on the pitch, and hopefully the experiences that we've had so far in all the away games will help us in this next step of our journey.”

Singapore boast a perfect record against Cambodia in the ASEAN Championship, having won all four previous encounters between the two nations over the tournament's 30-year history. The most recent came in the 2024 edition, a 2-1 victory in Singapore.

Cambodia, however, will have the backing of a home crowd at Morodok Techo National Stadium. Head coach Koji Gyotoku can also call upon recently naturalised duo Alisher Mirzaev and Iago Bento, as the Japanese tactician aims to steer his side to a positive start.

“We will do our best, play with determination and give everything we have tomorrow,” said Gyotoku. “However, we also have several players who are not currently in the best condition.

“The naturalised players help us greatly and provide an important boost to the team. Cambodian football is still growing and developing, so they can help fill some of the gaps and contribute to the continued development of football in Cambodia.”

Cambodia have never advanced beyond the group stage in ten previous appearances, but after securing a win and a draw in the opening phase of the 2024 tournament, Gyotoku remains optimistic about his team's prospects.

“We have a good group of players, and we will do our best and give everything we have tomorrow,” he added.