ACL Two Pre-Match Press Conference | vs Công An Hà Nội

This is the moment we have all been waiting for. After securing a place in the Round of 16 of the AFC Champions League Two 2025/26, the Stags stand as Singapore’s sole representatives on the continental stage. With the nation’s flag and the club crest on their shoulders, Tampines will be determined to keep their dream run alive and take the next step toward a historic quarter-final berth. Tomorrow’s match marks the beginning of that journey.

A surmountable challenge awaits, but one that comes with a sobering reminder. The Stags have been drawn against Công An Hà Nội (CAHN), reigning Vietnamese National Cup champions and undefeated leaders in the V.League 1 this season. Yet for Tampines supporters, those accolades are secondary to a more recent and painful memory - the 6-1 defeat suffered against the same opponents just last week in the ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup.

Now, the Stags will look to turn that frustration into fuel, resetting with renewed focus and purpose as a fresh ACL Two round begins.

Here are all the details from the pre-match press conference with the returning Head Coach Noh Rahman and Dylan Fox: 

On Match Objectives

Noh Rahman: We walk into this game with every intention of qualifying into the quarter-finals. So, this first leg is so important. As a group, we spoke about this importance and we are going into the game with a positive mindset of trying to do well.

Dylan Fox: The target is a good result here. We were just here a week ago, so we have become more familiar with our opponents. We didn’t put on a great performance then, but we are looking to make things right and head back to Singapore with a win.

On ACC Shopee Cup Loss Against CAHN

Noh Rahman: It was a disappointing result last week, but we are quite fortunate to have this opportunity to play them again. To concur with what Dylan mentioned, we are looking to make things right because the result was not a fair reflection of our performance that night.

On Renewed Preparations

Dylan Fox: As a defender, conceding 6 goals was not good. We have made a few adjustments after analysing the videos from the last game. We’ve shown throughout this competition that we can match with the big teams, and we wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for putting in big performances against those top teams. We are here in the Round of 16 for a reason, so we are looking forward to the game tomorrow.

On Players to Watch Out For in CAHN

Dylan Fox: In the last game, they shuffled around a few players. So, we can expect them to put out their strongest team tomorrow. To be honest, we’ll just look at the videos and work with the coaching staff to identify their strengths. We will be ready.

CAHN vs The Stags - Join us tomorrow for the LIVE Screening at Our Tampines Hub, Festive Plaza (Level 1) at 8.15PM SGT. Prefer to watch from home? Catch Our Stags LIVE on meWATCH. For the latest updates and more details, head over to the club’s official social media platforms.