By Wang Meng Meng

AS IF mounting injuries are not enough, two-time defending champions Singapore will now have to embark on their Asean Football Federation Suzuki Cup campaign without another striker.

For China-born Qiu Li, who will start in tonight's friendly against Vietnam at the Jurong East Stadium, has been deemed ineligible to represent the Lions in the Dec 5-28 competition.

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World football governing body Fifa has ruled that the 27-year-old cannot don Singapore colours as he does not fulfil its new five-year residency rule, reliable sources said yesterday.