The Philippine Women’s National Football Team has been grouped with fellow 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup-bound nation Vietnam in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games.
In a draw held today at host nation Cambodia, the Filipinas ended up in Group A with the Vietnamese.
Aside from Vietnam, the Filipinas will also face Myanmar, Malaysia, and Indonesia in the group stage as they seek to improve upon their bronze medal finish in the previous edition of the competition.
As the winners of the 2022 AFF Women’s Championship, coach Alen Stajcic’s team recorded resounding victories over Malaysia and Indonesia in the group stage of that tournament.
The Filipinas then defeated Vietnam 4-0 in the semifinals to book a place in the finals, which they eventually won to seal the gold medal on home soil.
On the other hand, the Filipinas last faced Myanmar in the bronze medal game of the 31st SEA Games. Sarina Bolden and Quinley Quezada scored goals in the last 20 minutes of the match to seal the country’s first podium finish since 1985.
When it comes to Rob Gier’s Azkals U22 side, they will go up against the likes of Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Timor Leste in Group A.
During the previous edition, the Philippines was bannered by the likes of Stephan Schrock, Oskari Kekkonen, and Oliver Bias with coach Norman Fegidero at the helm. The country finished in fourth place in the group with a win over Timor Leste its only victory in that campaign.
Gier hopes to be the man who can turn the country’s fortunes around in the regional tournament. The Azkals U22 hope to reach the semifinals of the SEA Games for the first time since 1991.
