AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup: Singapore drawn with Vietnam, Malaysia in Group B

·Editor

Updated August 30, 2022 at 3:51 a.m.·2 min read

Thailand celebrate winning the 2021 AFF Suzuki Cup against Indonesia. (PHOTO: Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

SINGAPORE — Singapore have been drawn into Group B of the 2022 ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Mitsubishi Electric Cup, together with Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar and Laos following the draw in Bangkok on Tuesday (30 August).

Group A of the biennial regional football competition will consist of Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia and the winner of the qualifying round.

The qualifying round will see Brunei taking on Timor Leste over two legs, with the winner going into Group A.

Following the draw, Singapore national head coach Takayuki Nishigaya said that his side will not be underestimating any of their Group B opponents.

"The team did well to reach the semi-finals in the previous edition and we will aim to give our best again this time and challenge for the trophy, but it is also important to stay focused and take it game by game," he said in a statement released by Football Association of Singapore.

“Of course, I understand the intense rivalry between Singapore and Malaysia, and it is an experience I am looking forward to. Furthermore, I am very excited as this will be my first time leading the Lions at this regional tournament since taking charge of the team.

“My backroom staff and I have already started to plan for the preparations in the build-up to the tournament, and I know that all our players are looking forward to compete as well."

Change of sponsor for the 2022 edition

This is the first time Mitsubishi Electric will be sponsoring the AFF Cup. In the previous edition - which held in Singapore in 2021 following postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic - the AFF Suzuki Cup was won by Thailand for the sixth time, after they defeated Indonesia 6-2 on aggregate over two legs.

Singapore had won the competition four times (1998, 2004, 2007, 2012). In the last edition, they reach the semi-final stage for the first time since 2012, but lost 3-5 to Indonesia on aggregate.

This year's edition is scheduled to be held from 20 December to 16 January 2023 across the 10 Southeast Asian countries in a home-and-away format..

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