End of Karim Bencherifa’s stint as Singapore women’s national football coach

SINGAPORE – Karim Bencherifa’s contract as Singapore women’s national football coach will not be renewed as the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) announced on April 2 the end of his three-year tenure.

After taking over from Stephen Ng in February 2023, the 58-year-old Moroccan guided the Lionesses to qualification for the 2025 Asean Women’s Championship – although the team were withdrawn by the FAS due to overlapping fixtures – and 9-0 friendly wins over Macau in 2024 and Seychelles in 2025.

However, during this period, the Lionesses saw their world ranking slip from 134th to 152nd and he leaves with a record of five wins, two draws and 17 losses in 24 games.

Said the former S.League player and former Morocco women’s national team coach: “This journey was about more than wins; it was about building belief, raising standards, and creating opportunities for the next generation.

“I leave with great confidence in the future of the Lionesses. I’m grateful to have been part of this journey, and I wish the new coach and the Lionesses the very best of luck.”

During his stint, Bencherifa blooded numerous teenagers and handed senior international debuts to 15 players.

Talented young players from the second-tier Women’s National League were also identified and given opportunities to train with the national team.

However, several players also withdrew from the Asian Games squad in 2023, citing the need to prioritise mental health and difficulties in adapting to the coach’s style, although Bencherifa responded then that he and his coaching staff have always encouraged communication with players.

On his stint, he said: “One of my best memories is seeing young players step onto the international stage for the first time – when you show trust, give them confidence, and they rise to the occasion.

“Players like Farah Nurzahirah, Ardhra Arul (Ganeswaran), Cara Chang and Kyra Taylor all scored on their debuts, and these moments are also made possible by the unwavering support and trust of their parents, especially for the younger players.

“We also aimed to adopt more professional practices within the programme, from GPS monitoring and sports science support to video analysis and structured performance reporting, building a stronger foundation for the future. We introduced a new generation of players – many of whom earned their first international caps – and built a stronger foundation for the future.”

As the FAS searches for a replacement, its general secretary Badri Ghent thanked Bencherifa for his “professionalism, commitment and contributions to Singapore women’s football”.

He added: “Karim has played an important role in the continued development of the Lionesses during his time with us.

“Beyond the results on the pitch, he has been instrumental in strengthening the pathway between our youth programmes and the senior national team, giving more young players the opportunity to train and compete at the highest level... and we wish him every success in the next chapter of his coaching journey.”