Tsutomu Ogura steps down as Singapore head coach

Singapore won only five games during Tsutomu Ogura’s managerial tenure.

The Singapore National Football Team has been hit with a major blow after head coach Tsutomu Ogura stepped down from his role with immediate effect.

Singapore are currently the table toppers of Group C in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers. They have been unbeaten so far and secured four points, and are inching closer to securing the coveted spot in Asia’s premier competition.

Tsutomu Ogura took over the reins of the Singapore football team in February 2024 after the Lions had a poor start to their FIFA World Cup Qualifier campaign. In his first game as the Singapore gaffer, Tsutomu Ogura saw the Lions making a 2-2 comeback after going two goals down against China.

How did Singapore fare under Tsutoma Ogura?

Tsutomu Ogura’s inclusion in the Singapore national team reflected the association’s trust in the Japanese brand of football, as he became the third consecutive Japanese to become the head coach of the Lions.

Singapore had a disastrous campaign in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers in the second round after the team failed to win a single game and secured merely a point in six games to bow out of the race. Under Ogura, the Lions faced humiliating defeats such as the 7-0 thrashing from South Korea and a 4-1 defeat to China.

The AFF Championship marked the silver lining for the team as they went on to reach the semi-finals before the Vietnamese National Football team crushed their hopes to make it to the Finals.

The Indian team is set to face Singapore in October

The Singapore national team has gained momentum recently and are currently on a three-match unbeaten streak. They kick-started their AFC Asian Cup Qualifier fixtures with a goalless draw against Hong Kong. In their latest encounter, they thrashed Bangladesh 3-1 to occupy the top spot with four points.

The new head coach’s first major assignment will be to get the better of the Indian football team. The Blue Tigers suffered a heartbreak after a defeat to Hong Kong recently and will be keen to turn around their fortunes with a win over Singapore in the next game.

All eyes will be on how the newly appointed coach carries forward the momentum. Regardless, Tsutoma Ogura’s departure has left a void in the national team as they seek to redeem their Asian Cup dreams.

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