FIFA U-20 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP: AFC president hails North Korea after all-Asian final
BOGOTA: Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President has praised North Korea for clinching a record-equalling third FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup title after defeating their East Asian opponents Japan 1-0 in an all-Asian spectacle at the Estadio El Campin in Bogota, Colombia.
The thrilling showdown was the fourth time in history where the all-important final of a FIFA women’s age-group tournament was contested between two Asian sides and a repeat of the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup™ decider earlier this year, which saw North Korea come from behind to secure their second title in Uzbekistan.
The AFC president said: “The entire Asian football family joins me in congratulating both DPR Korea and Japan for their riveting displays throughout the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia and for producing a truly memorable final.
“Our special praise is reserved for DPR Korea for securing their third title but on this historic day, with all eyes on our great Continent, Asia is the ultimate winner.
“Both teams have now cemented their places as amongst the most successful women’s age-group sides in world football and we must commend both the DPR Korea Football Association and the Japan Football Association for their outstanding commitment to producing world-class youth teams year after year.”
Shaikh Salman, who had envisaged that Asian sides would once again dominate the global age-group showpiece in Colombia, added: “As I reiterated before the tournament, nowhere is the progress of the AFC’s Vision and Mission and rise of our teams on the world’s biggest stages more palpable than with our women’s age-group teams.
“The exceptional performances of our teams will serve as an inspiration for our participating teams and Member Associations to achieve more historical moments in the years to come and I am confident that our Asian stars of tomorrow will write a new glorious chapter in the history of women’s football not just in our Continent, but across the women’s game globally.”
Emerging stars included North Korea’s Choe Il Son, whose six goals saw her seal the tournament’s top scorer award as well as the Golden Ball accolade while the Japanese duo of Manaka Matsukubo and Maya Hijikata claimed the Silver Ball and Bronze Boot respectively.
North Korea, appearing in their fourth final, won their first title in their debut U-20 campaign in 2006 before adding a second a decade later. Japan, featuring in their third final, were winners in 2018.
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