Top 3 Singapore U-17 players to watch out for against India U-17 in 2027 AFC U-17 Asian Cup Qualifiers

Singapore won their opening game of the 2027 AFC U-17 Asian Cup Qualifiers against Guam 6-0.

While much of the attention surrounding Indian football has focused on the senior team travelling to New Zealand and the second-string side, featuring several U-23 players, competing in the SAFF Championship in Dhaka, the India U-17 national team are back in action in a crucial tournament that will determine their chances of qualifying for the 2027 AFC U-17 Asian Cup.

The Blue Colts, who qualified for and featured in the 2026 AFC U-17 Asian Cup under then head coach Bibiano Fernandes, have an opportunity to qualify for back-to-back editions of the tournament for the first time since the 2016 and 2018 editions.

A major change has taken place at the helm since the previous qualifiers, with former Indian right-back and Mohammedan SC head coach Mehrajuddin Wadoo taking over as head coach of the Blue Colts. Bibiano stepped down from the role to take charge of the U-15 team and is now serving as Naushad Moosa’s assistant in the 2026 SAFF Championship.

Group E of the 2027 AFC U-17 Asian Cup qualifiers, where India have been placed alongside Singapore, Guam, Palestine and Malaysia, has already kicked off in Kuala Lumpur, with every team except India having played their opening game on November 8.

The Blue Colts will begin their campaign against an in-form Singapore U-17 side, who are coming off the back of a convincing 6-0 win against Guam in their opening qualifier. The clash between the two sides is scheduled to kick off at 06:30 PM IST on November 11 at the Kuala Lumpur Stadium in Malaysia.

As Mehrajuddin Wadoo prepares his side for an intense clash against the Young Lions, let’s take a look at three Singapore players who could pose a serious threat to India’s chances of securing a winning start.

Gavriel Lai Keng Lum

Gavriel Lai Keng Lum is a young, technically gifted midfielder currently honing his skills at Club Madrid City in Spain, having made the bold move from Singapore to Spain at a very young age.

Having developed in Spain, he is expected to bring considerable technical ability and composure in possession, while also possessing the movement and tenacity to navigate pressure situations in the middle of the park.

He scored in Singapore’s opening game of the 2027 AFC U-17 Asian Cup qualifiers against Guam and also found the net against Brunei in the 2026 ASEAN U-17 Cup, demonstrating his goal scoring threat from midfield.

Aidan Bin Irfan

Aidan Bin Irfan is another Singapore player developing his game in Spain, where he is working on his style of play and progressing through the youth development system.

He is also the team’s captain, leading from the front with his goal scoring instincts and attacking ability. Irfan is in decent form heading into the game against India, having scored in both of his previous appearances.

Playing as a target man, he displayed good instincts against Guam, making well-timed runs to attack balls inside the box and capitalizing on a goalkeeper’s mistake to find the net.

Aymaan Aris

Aymaan Aris, one of the youngest players in the Singapore U-17 team and Singapore football in general, was among the first young talents from the country to move to Portugal to continue his football development and gain an early advantage over his peers.

An attacking midfielder who is also capable of playing as a winger, Aymaan is a technically gifted player who enjoys taking on defenders. In multiple interviews, he has spoken about wanting to model his style of play on Brazilian legend Neymar.

Although he started the opening game against Guam on the bench, he is expected to pose a significant threat against India with his flair and explosiveness, whether he starts or comes on as a substitute.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube; download the Khel Now Android app or iOS app; and join our community on WhatsApp & Telegram.