It was felt that India, who will also have the experience of hosting the FIFA Women’s Under-17 World Cup later this year, was best placed among the three bidders – Chinese Taipei and Uzbekistan were the other competing candidates – to maximise the promotion of the women’s game.

The stadiums proposed by India – D Y Patil Stadium and Trans Stadia Arena – are also being used in the FIFA tournament. India was the host of the AFC Under-16 Championships in 2016 and the FIFA Under-17 World Cup 2017 and the Committee agreed the country could continue raising the standards of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.

In addition to featuring top-class players, the campaign celebrates women’s contribution to Asian football and emphasises their varied roles within it, illustrating football as a career option for women and girls. Also appearing in the campaign videos are AFC Executive Committee Member Susan Shalabi Molano and Member of the AFC’s Social Responsibility Committee Mona Dabdoob from the Palestine Football Association.

The campaign celebrates women’s contribution to Asian football and emphasises their varied roles within it, illustrating football as a career option for women and girls. The first country from West Asia to host the AFC Women’s Asian Cup earlier this year, Jordan, is represented in the campaign by national team forward Stephanie Al Naber who plays for Shabab Al Ordon Club and midfielder Shahnaz Jebreen whose club is Amman SC. They share their stories about the obstacles they have overcome as women in football.

 

364 – Australia’s Alanna Kennedy attempted 364 passes in five matches, the most of any player, while also contributing two goals and two assists despite playing as a defender.

16 – Wang Shuang led the tournament in chance creation. The China PR playmaker showed her quality, creating 16 chances for her teammates while still finding time to find the back of the net four times herself. 

0 -  Despite being eliminated in the group stage, Korea Republic were the only side not to concede a single goal in the tournament. Such was their defensive strength that goalkeeper Yoon Young-guel was only required to make seven saves in their four matches.

2 – China PR and host nation Jordan were the only two sides to score in every match they played in the tournament. China PR finished a creditable third, while Jordan unfortunately lost all three of their Group A matches.

A day after her 50th birthday, Takakura gave her whole country a reason to celebrate, becoming the first female coach to lead the Nadeshiko to a major international trophy thanks to substitute Kumi Yokoyama’s sensational late winner.

The former playing great revealed her pride, both at her side’s achievement and the quality of the spectacle.

“We knew since the beginning that the match tonight would be the difficult one, and I believe it was a match worth watching and one of the best matches that Asia can show at this moment,” she said.

“I’m proud to have such a great match against one of the best countries in Asia and in the world – Australia.

“We had very difficult time (tonight). Not for a short time, for a long time. I’d like to congratulate my players from deep in my heart.”

The 25-year-old Shandong Women’s FC forward impressively found the net in all five of China’s games at the tournament, scoring twice in the group stage encounters with Thailand and host nation Jordan. 

Li was also on target during Friday’s 3-1 win over the Thais which helped the Steel Roses secure third place.

“As a striker, it is my responsibility to score, and I am delighted to have been able to help the team, but it is a team effort and my teammates have helped me throughout,” she explained.

“There are no secrets behind what I have done as it is my job to score goals. I believe I have worked extremely hard in training and I think that has paid off during this tournament.

“Having scored seven goals, a total which includes two penalties, will certainly give me added confidence going forward, but I believe I still have work to in order to improve.”

Li’s teammates Song Duan and Wang Shuang, along with title winner Kumi Yokoyama from Japan and Thailand’s Kanjana Sung-Ngoen, finished tied for second with four goals apiece, while three players – Korea Republic duo Lee Min-a and Cho So-hyun, as well as Australia’s Sam Kerr – were third on three goals.

The win means Asako Takakura’s charges are the first team to win back-to-back Asian titles since DPR Korea in 2003.

The Nadeshiko survived a deluge of Australian shots at goal, including a saved penalty kick in the 15th minute, before substitute Yokoyama’s strike turned the match in their favour with just six minutes remaining.

Seven days after the sides played out a crucial Group B tie to see who would remain in the tournament, they met again at the same venue to decide who would win it, and – in a repeat of the previous meeting – it was Australia who started the stronger.

 

The talented striker scored twice and was an ever-present for the Nadeshiko throughout the tournament, with her display in the final only serving to further underline the 25-year-old’s growing reputation. 

However, despite her glowing reviews and well-deserved personal accolades, Iwabuchi was quick to dedicate the award to those around her.

“We won this AFC Women’s Asian Cup title because we played as a team,” she declared.

“I believe my award is simply a result of just that – the team working together, I would like to say many thanks to them.

“I am just happy that I could play all five matches during this tournament, personally speaking I should now look to develop more as a player going forward and, in the process help the team more.