With the 0-1 loss to Vietnam in the semi-final of the ASEAN Football Championship (AFF Suzuki Cup) still fresh in their minds, the Singapore national football team will now have to set their minds to qualifying for the Asian Cup in Doha, Qatar, in 2011.

Singapore are in Group E with Jordan, Thailand and Iran for the final qualification round of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup.

Singapore will face three-time Asian Cup champions Iran on January 14 away in Tehran. Iran are favourites to win the group and qualify and so our boys are realistically only aiming for second place to win qualification. The top two in each group qualify for the Asian Cup Finals.

Said coach Raddy Avramovic on the FAS website: “Iran is the main team in the group and they are the favourites to get to the finals. They may have been undergoing some changes but they have done well recently in the World Cup qualifying and seem to have found the right balance in their team. They have a number of younger players but they are still one of the best in Asia and should be able to go through."

Singapore will play Jordan at home on January 28th and then play Thailand in November 2009.

The top two teams from each group will progress to the finals in 2011. Qatar automatically qualify as hosts and will be joined by Asian Cup champions Iraq, runners-up Saudi Arabia and second runners-up Korea Republic, the top three in last year’s AFC Asian Cup Finals.

AFC Asia Cup 2011 Fixtures (source: FAS website)

14 Jan 2009
Iran vs Singapore
Tehran, Iran

28 Jan 2009
Singapore vs Jordan
Singapore, Singapore

14 Nov 2009
Singapore vs Thailand
Singapore, Singapore

18 Nov 2009
Thailand vs Singapore
Bangkok, Thailand

6 Jan 2010
Singapore vs Iran
Singapore, Singapore

3 March 2010
Jordan vs Singapore
Amman, Jordan