Injury may sideline Lionesses’ forward Danelle Tan from AFF Women’s Cup

Tan, who is 20 years old, was unable to participate in the opening match of Brisbane Roar's A-League Women due to an injury. She underwent minor knee surgery on Nov 7, as per her club's announcement, and will be sidelined for four to six weeks as she recovers.

The Women’s Cup in Vientiane, Laos, is a newly introduced qualifying tournament for the Asean Women’s Championship, which was formerly known as the AFF Women’s Championship.

Singapore have been drawn in Group A with hosts Laos and Timor-Leste. The top two teams from the two groups advance to the semi-finals, with the finalists and third-placed side earning spots in the Women’s Championship in 2025 alongside Vietnam, Myanmar, Philippines and Thailand.

With the tournament just two weeks away, chances of Tan taking the field for the Lionesses hangs by a thread. In their last outing on July 16, Tan scored a hat-trick as they hammered Macau 9-0 to take her tally for the national team to seven goals in 22 matches.

Noting that the medical procedure is a first for her, Tan said: “There were some loose bodies in my knee, likely cartilage that broke off from my knee joint. It was causing my knee to swell up significantly every time I ran.

“⁠I’ll be working closely with my club physio to get me back playing as soon as possible. I won’t count myself completely out yet, but more of a major doubt.”

In August, Tan signed her first professional contract with the Roar until the end of the 2024-25 season after leaving German side Borussia Dortmund. In Germany, she contributed 16 goals in 27 matches as BVB Frauen won the fifth-division Landesliga in 2024 to earn their third consecutive promotion in three years. They also clinched the regional Kreispokal Cup.

And while her stint Down Under has been hit by a speed bump, Tan is determined to bounce back. She added: “I’ll be doing everything I can to make sure I’m back on the field as quick as possible, both for my country and my club.

“⁠If I do miss the tournament though, I’m confident the team have been working very hard back home in Singapore and will be able to compete.”

When contacted, Lionesses head coach Karim Bencherifa – the Moroccan was appointed in March 2023 – said he would not completely rule Tan out for the tournament.