Football chief lauds Malditas for booking Asian Cup ticket, but adds: 'We can't rest on this'

Sights are now set on India.

After the national women's football team swept the qualifiers, Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president Mariano "Nonong" Araneta said they will now gear up the team for the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup in India.

Mariano said the real grind has just started for the squad as they are also eyeing to punch a ticket for the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2023.

"We are truly delighted by this remarkable achievement by our Philippine Women’s National Team," Mariano said.

"We cannot rest on this achievement. We will leave no stone unturned in preparing the team in the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, where the Top 5 teams will qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023."

Mariano, also the country's chef de mission to the recently concluded Tokyo Olympics, said the qualification to the Asian Cup showed the work the team has put in amid the challenging situation brought by the pandemic.

The national booters proved to be on-target in the qualifiers.

They opened their campaign first with a 2-1 come-from-behind win over Nepal behind late goals from Tahnai Annis and Camille Wilson.

Then they sent Hong Kong crushing with a similar 2-1 scorecard after  Annis and Chandler McDaniel converted to steer the Philippines to a sweep of the contest.

"Qualification to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup is a testament to the hard work and sacrifice made by the players and the coaching staff and the support of sponsors and stakeholders," he added.

"It wasn't an easy journey owing to the fact that the team competed and represented the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic."

—JMB, GMA News