Lions return to heroes’ welcome as Forrest Li announces S$2m reward for Asian Cup qualification

The Singapore men's national football team returned to a heroes’ welcome at Changi Airport on 19 November, following their historic qualification for the 2027 Asian Cup.

Hundreds of supporters turned up at Terminal 2 to greet the Lions, who had secured their spot in the tournament after a 2-1 victory over Hong Kong at Kai Tak Stadium the previous day.

The win marks Singapore's first qualification for the Asian Cup on merit. The only previous appearance was in 1984, when Singapore hosted the tournament.

In a symbolic moment of national pride, team captain Hariss Harun led the squad out of the arrival gates to the cheers of over 300 fans dressed in red.

FAS president Forrest Li, who is also chief executive officer of Sea Limited, announced that the team would be awarded approximately S$2 million (US$1.53 million) in total rewards.

“There will be a big reward,” said Li during a doorstop interview at the airport. “We want to make a statement – if you are a good footballer, you make contributions to the country, you bring pride and joy to Singaporeans, you deserve it and you should be rewarded.”

He added that the total payout would be distributed across the squad and staff, with individual bonuses reaching up to S$40,000 depending on involvement during the qualification campaign.

This reward is in addition to the team’s usual match bonuses. Players who take to the field in a winning match typically receive S$6,000 each, with smaller sums for non-playing squad members.

Li expressed gratitude to corporate and public partners who supported the team, including Singapore Airlines, Shangri-La, and national sports agency Sport Singapore.

Calling for greater support, Li quipped: “It depends on how much I can raise. If every Singaporean contributes S$1, we have several million dollars for the players.”

The emotional homecoming was made even more special as fans spontaneously broke into a rendition of “Happy Birthday” for Hariss Harun, who turned 35.

Hariss was visibly moved as he hugged his three children upon arrival and thanked supporters for standing by the team through challenging times.

“It’s about time we gave back something,” he told reporters. “Each and every one stepped in the team to do their part and it was a wonderful story to get us to the Asian Cup.”

Asked about the team’s mindset after falling behind to Hong Kong, Hariss said: “We were calm. We stayed true to our belief in ourselves... we got the first goal, and we came back.”

The goals that turned the game around came from Shawal Anuar and Ilhan Fandi, who both struck within four minutes to overturn Hong Kong’s first-half lead by Matt Orr.

The win secured Singapore’s place at the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia with one match remaining in their qualification round.

The Lions’ achievement also cast a spotlight on interim coach Gavin Lee, who took over in June following the departure of former head coach Tsutomu Ogura. Lee had joined the national setup in March 2024 as part of Ogura’s backroom staff and was later promoted to assistant coach.

Lee, 33, guided the team to arguably their most significant result in recent years. Speaking after the victory, he said: “There’s no secret sauce. It’s about getting everybody on the same page, pulling towards the same direction, recognising that we have a possibility to achieve something.”

“We had to make certain sacrifices. We needed to behave in a certain way,” he added, crediting the players for their discipline and commitment. “Those are the characters that we rely on. And yeah, if it wasn’t for them, then we wouldn’t be here today.”

Support for Lee’s leadership has also come from the public. Ms Lau, a long-time national team supporter, said to CNA: “We don’t have to look for (foreigners). A local coach is just as good as anyone else. And he has proven himself. There’s no need to always look outside.”

Among the crowd at the airport was Hariss’ father, Mr Harun, 64, who waited quietly with his grandchildren as the celebrations unfolded.

“I’m obviously happy for my son and happy for Singapore football,” he said. “His drive, love, passion and motivation for the game are what keep him going.”

Ms Fatimah, a family friend, praised Hariss’ character and consistency. “He’s very strong-willed and his values are very inspiring,” she said.

Another early arrival at the airport was 72-year-old Mr Velappakutty Gagan, a long-time Team Nila volunteer.

“The Lions made a point,” he said. “This would be the moment that football in Singapore and sports in Singapore will make a change.”

The Singapore Lions now look ahead to the Asian Cup finals in 2027, buoyed by a new wave of optimism, public support, and the promise of greater investment in local football.