Football Association of Singapore President Lim Kia Tong said in a Oct. 20, 2017 statement that the “the National Team’s performances have been improving, although the results might not have gone their way.”

This comes after Singapore fell to 173rd in the latest world football rankings on Oct. 16, the worst-ever placing in history.

Singapore’s previous lowest ranking in the 206-team table was 171, in October 2016.

And Singapore has not won a match since November 2016 when it last won 1-0 in a friendly against Cambodia.

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Comments part of press release

Lim's comments was part of a statement released to announce two upcoming Lions matches.

This is the full quote:

FAS President Mr Lim Kia Tong said: “We have always said that we want to make the National Stadium the Home of our Lions, so we are happy to be playing these two matches at the National Stadium.

“The National Team's performances have been improving, although the results might not have gone their way. They need the fans' strong, consistent and vociferous support, because that will determine the outcome of the battle. I look forward to seeing the Stadium filled with passionate supporters. Let's reinvigorate the Kallang Roar and inspire the Lions to victory. We must stand for the Lions as a nation.”

National Stadium home turf

Besides assertions that Singapore is improving despite the results, the other big news is that the Lions are to finally play two matches at the National Stadium.

They will take on Lebanon in a friendly on Nov. 9 and then Bahrain on Nov. 14 for the Asian Cup qualifier.

The match against Bahrain will be the first Asian Cup 2019 qualifier to the played at the National Stadium.

Previously, the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) utilised the Jalan Besar Stadium for its qualifiers against Turkmenistan and Chinese Taipei.

The full FAS statement is available here.

Top photo via FAS