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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.

 

The series of new videos features women’s football stars from different parts of Asia who play at the top of the game internationally, such as Korea Republic international Ji So-yun who plays as a midfielder for Chelsea FC Women in the FA Women’s Super League in England. In addition, the campaign highlights powerful stories by women who have carved a profession in football against all obstacles.

The first country from West Asia to host the AFC Women’s Asian Cup earlier this year, Jordan, is represented by national team forward Stephanie Al Naber who plays for Shabab Al Ordon Club and midfielder Shahnaz Jebreen whose club is Amman SC.

 

Three weeks after helping her national team to a fifth-place finish at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Jordan 2018, Ji was instrumental as the Southwest London club prevailed in front of over 45,000 fans.

Two goals to Ramona Bachmann put Chelsea in the driver’s seat, before prolific Dutch international Vivienne Miedema kept Arsenal, who are coached by Australia’s Joe Montemurro, in the contest with a goal in the 73rd minute.

But a goal to Fran Kirby three minutes later sealed Chelsea’s win, their second in four years after Ji scored the only goal in the 2015 final against Notts County.

In addition to her key contribution as a provider of goal scoring opportunities, Ji added goals against London Bees in the third round, and Doncaster in the fourth to help Emma Hayes’ advance to the final.

In a successful season for the club, Chelsea remain in contention for the FA Women’s Super League title, and reached the UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-finals, before being eliminated by Wolfsburg last weekend.

Ji is expected to feature prominently in Korea Republic’s challenge for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, to be held in France next June.

The 2017 AFC Women’s Player of the Year runner-up played the full 90 minutes as her side defeated Manchester City thanks to a single Lucy Bronze goal in the second leg of their semi-final, to advance to the May 24 showpiece against VfL Wolfsburg in Kiev with a 1-0 aggregate victory.

Kumagai, who missed last weekend’s first leg due to her international commitments in Jordan, is now one match away from claiming European women’s club football’s highest honour for a third season in a row.

The 27-year-old played a key role in the 2016 final, also against Wolfsburg, when she was voted player of the match and scored the winning penalty in her side’s shootout victory.

The AFC Women's Asian Cup served as the final qualifying tournament for the Women's World Cup 2019 and to reach the continental competition, Yoon's side had to go through a tough road in the DPR Korea capital last April. 

The Taeguk Ladies were seen as underdogs in their duel with DPR Korea, but Korea Republic earned an Asian Cup berth at the end after edging their rivals on goal difference.

The positive energy that was created from Pyongyang led Korea Republic to to grab a ticket to the Women's World Cup 2019.

In a tournament decider somewhat emblematic of a campaign where the Matildas arguably had the better of all five of their matches, but often failed to find the cutting edge required in front of goal, Kumi Yokoyama’s 84th minute wonder-strike sealed victory for Japan.

Head coach Stajcic praised his side’s effort in the showpiece match, but rued their inability to find the back of the net

The Nadeshiko claimed their second successive continental crown on Friday thanks to Kumi Yokoyama’s goal in a narrow 1-0 win over Australia, a victory in which Yamashita more than played her part thanks a string of superb saves including one from Elise Kellond-Knight’s 14th minute penalty.

With next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup still to come, the 22-year-old feels Japan’s successful campaign will now hand Asako Takakura’s charges a major boost going forward.

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 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.