Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Tokyo: Reigning champions Japan will meet Ghana in their final home fixture before they look to defend their AFC Women’s Asian Cup title in April.
Asako Takakura’s side will meet the 46th-ranked Ghanaians at Nagaski Athletic Stadium on April 1, giving local fans the opportunity to bid farewell to their heroes before they pursue another Asian title.
Ghana – who are the second-highest ranked African nation, and finished third in the most recent Women’s African Cup of Nations in 2016 – have visited Japan once before, losing 5-0 to the Nadeshiko in Yamagata in 2014.
The match, which takes place just six days before Japan’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup campaign kicks off against Vietnam, will play a pivotal role in their Jordan 2018 preparations according to head coach Takakura.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Sydney: Striker Kyah Simon will miss Australia’s Algarve Cup campaign after sustaining a hamstring injury in Sunday’s W-League Grand Final, with the Melbourne City star to be replaced by Alex Chidiac.
Simon – who has 23 international goals to her name, and scored against Denmark at last year’s Algarve Cup – joins 2016 AFC Women’s Player of the Year Caitlin Foord on Australia’s casualty list, with both players to receive treatment before April’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
The news was confirmed by head coach Alen Stajcic.
“We would love to have Kyah and Caitlin with us in Portugal. However it is in their best interests to remain in Australia and continue their respective recoveries,” he said.
“We’ll have four games over just eight days in Portugal, so the tournament will provide a chance for all the players involved in the squad to impress as we move towards the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
“Hopefully our performances in Portugal will continue to drive momentum leading into our next match on Australian soil in Perth, as well as the (AFC Women’s) Asian Cup.”
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Madrid: Jordan turned in an excellent performance in the first match of their tour of Spain, but had to settle for a draw after Liga Femenina outfit Madrid CFF came from two-goals behind to snatch a 2-2 draw.
Al Nashmiyat’s goals came from familiar sources, with star forwards Maysa Jbarah and Shahnaz Jebreen adding to the six goals they collectively scored in two friendlies against Afghanistan earlier this month.
The AFC Women’s Asian Cup hosts wasted no time in taking control of the match, taking the lead through the prolific Jbarah after just seven minutes, before Jebreen doubled the lead in the 28th minute.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Beijing: Former Steel Roses number one and FC Bayern Munich recruit Wang Fei has been named in China PR’s Algarve Cup squad just days after the surprise international retirement of fellow goalkeeper Zhao Lina.
Zhao, who played all four of China PR’s matches at the 2016 Rio Olympics, revealed she was stepping away for national team duties via social media after regularly featuring for the national team since making her debut in 2015.
Zhao, 26, also played in all three matches at the EAFF E-1 Championship in December, but featured just once in January’s Four Nations Tournament in Foshan.
Wang Fei, who herself retired from international follow during Bruno Bini’s reign as China PR coach in 2016, returns to the national team’s goalkeeping ranks alongside Lu Feifei and 19-year-old Peng Shimeng.