SINGAPORE’S SHOCKING LOSS TO NEPAL - A NASI LEMAK WITHOUT RICE?
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Singapore’s 1-0 defeat to Nepal at the National Stadium on 21 March 2025 left many fans stunned.
With a higher FIFA ranking, the 160th ranked Lions were expected to overpower the Nepalese who are ranked at the 175th place, but instead, they found themselves struggling to put together a cohesive performance.
After the match, a friend of mine used "Nasi Lemak" (above image, as credited), a beloved local dish, to describe the situation.
He reasonated that if a padi field lacks water and nitrates, you can’t grow quality rice, nor can you cultivate fresh cucumbers.
It also affects chicken feed production, meaning the fried chicken wing - the heart of a good "Nasi Lemak" - ends up tasting poor.
Likewise, Singapore’s performance against Nepal showed clear shortages in key areas. The team lacked structure, creativity, and finishing - essentially missing the essential “ingredients” needed to cook up a solid performance.
But as he pointed out:"Who eats Nasi Lemak just for the peanuts, sambal, and anchovies?"
These elements are meant to complement the dish, not carry it.
In the same way, the efforts of a few players weren’t enough to cover for the rest of the team’s shortcomings.
My friend compared him to the "giant banana leaf" that the dish is served on - present but ultimately not influencing the quality of the meal.
Whether you swap the banana leaf for a lotus leaf, a pandan leaf, or even a melamine plate, the problem remains the same: if the core ingredients are lacking, the "Nasi Lemak" still tastes disappointing.
Can the Lions find the right ingredients before the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers?
Or will we be left with another plate of "Nasi Lemak" that no one wants to eat?
With a higher FIFA ranking, the 160th ranked Lions were expected to overpower the Nepalese who are ranked at the 175th place, but instead, they found themselves struggling to put together a cohesive performance.
| "Nasi Lemak" - a favourite local dish |
After the match, a friend of mine used "Nasi Lemak" (above image, as credited), a beloved local dish, to describe the situation.
NO WATER, NO NITRATES – NO QUALITY INGREDIENTS
"If the padi field doesn't have the water or nitrates, you can't have decent nasi lemak or Teochew muay." said this friend of mine who started off his theory with these words.He reasonated that if a padi field lacks water and nitrates, you can’t grow quality rice, nor can you cultivate fresh cucumbers.
It also affects chicken feed production, meaning the fried chicken wing - the heart of a good "Nasi Lemak" - ends up tasting poor.
Likewise, Singapore’s performance against Nepal showed clear shortages in key areas. The team lacked structure, creativity, and finishing - essentially missing the essential “ingredients” needed to cook up a solid performance.
ONLY THE PEANUTS, SAMBAL, AND ANCHOVIES HELD UP
My friend likened the situation of players like Song Ui-young, Kyoga Nakamura, and the Fandi brothers to the "peanuts, sambal, and anchovies" - hardy elements that did their job despite the overall dish falling short.But as he pointed out:"Who eats Nasi Lemak just for the peanuts, sambal, and anchovies?"
These elements are meant to complement the dish, not carry it.
In the same way, the efforts of a few players weren’t enough to cover for the rest of the team’s shortcomings.
OGURA – JUST A GIANT BANANA LEAF?
Head coach Tsutomu Ogura didn’t escape this analogy either.My friend compared him to the "giant banana leaf" that the dish is served on - present but ultimately not influencing the quality of the meal.
Whether you swap the banana leaf for a lotus leaf, a pandan leaf, or even a melamine plate, the problem remains the same: if the core ingredients are lacking, the "Nasi Lemak" still tastes disappointing.
WHAT’S NEXT? CAN WE FIX THE RECIPE?
This result should serve as a wake-up call for Singapore football. There are deeper issues at play - be it tactics, player development, or squad selection. If we don’t address them, we’ll keep serving up the same unsatisfying dish.Can the Lions find the right ingredients before the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers?
Or will we be left with another plate of "Nasi Lemak" that no one wants to eat?
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