Lion City Sailors full-back Akram Azman has been named in Tsutomu Ogura’s 22-strong Singapore National Team squad for the upcoming March international window, alongside seven of his Sailors teammates: Hariss Harun, Hami Syahin, Lionel Tan, Christopher van Huizen, Shawal Anuar, Abdul Rasaq Akeem, and Izwan Mahbud.
The septet was part of Singapore’s ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2024 squad, and Sailors captain Hariss Harun already boasts 138 caps to his name. Akram, however, is at the opposite end of the spectrum — this is his first senior call-up, having previously been capped at the Under-23 level.
The 24-year-old has been on a steady upward trajectory since joining the Sailors from Tanjong Pagar United in January, impressing with his tenacity and relentless engine as a right wing-back in his five appearances in white and blue so far.
He netted his maiden Sailors goal on his first start for the club in a 4-1 Singapore Cup victory over his former employers on 16 February. He then made his Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) Two debut, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 4-0 win over Muangthong United that sealed the Sailors’ passage into the quarter-finals.
Three of his five appearances came in the Singapore Premier League (SPL), where he memorably registered two assists in a 5-1 win over Balestier Khalsa on 23 March.
Elated with his breakthrough, Akram is raring to contribute to the Lions’ cause as Ogura’s men take on Nepal in an international friendly next Friday (21 March), before hosting Hong Kong in their opening Group C AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifier four days later (25 March). Both matches will be played at the National Stadium.
“It’s a proud moment for me to receive a call-up to the senior Lions squad,” said Akram. “I have to credit my coaches and teammates for creating an environment that allows me to improve day by day. I’ll be working my hardest to showcase my abilities and represent the country with pride.”
