The Philippine Women’s National Football team “Filipinas” has bagged its first ever Association of Southeast Asian Nations Football Federation (AFF) Women’s Championship title on Sunday, July 17.
Filipinas beat regional rival Thailand, 3-0, in the final at the Rizal Memorial Stadium where 8,257 fans were in attendance.
Philippine’s Jessika Rebecca Macayan Cowart’s set a head start for the team with a goal within the first eight minutes of the championship game. Katrina Jacqueline Rivera Guillou doubled the lead for the Philippines in the 21st minute. To seal the victory, Sarina Isabel Calpo Bolden hit one more goal one minute before the match ended.
“There’s no magic. It’s a lots of hard work, training and lots of discipline and dedication from everyone. And really it’s a whole team effort,” said Philippines Head Coach Alen Stajcic in the press interview after the game.
Filipinas’ performance is a historic run in the regional tournament especially that the last time that Philippines won in a women’s football tournament was 41 years ago.
The Philippines Women’s National Team were first formed in 1981, and since then have only ever had two minor honours, winning bronze at the 1985 South East Asian Games and also at the 2022 South East Asian Games.
The Philippines’ Natonal Women’s Football team is set to compete in the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
The team was also congratulated by President Bongbong Marcos who posted a video wishing the team good luck hours before the championship game.
