AFC President praises Jordan’s historic achievement

Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia, June 10, 2013: AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has extended his congratulations to the Jordan women’s national team following their qualification to the finals of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup for the first time in their history.

Jordan claimed the final ticket to the 2014 AFC Women’s Asian Cup finals with a 4-0 victory over Uzbekistan on Sunday that saw them top qualifying Group A with a 100% record following victories over Lebanon and Kuwait.

“Jordan’s qualification to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup finals for the first time is a testament to all those who have enthusiastically and proactively worked towards the development of the women’s game in the country and on behalf of the Asian football family I would like to extend my congratulations for this significant achievement,” Shaikh Salman said.

“The rapid development of the women’s game in Asia has been shown in the success of teams like Japan, DPR Korea and China on the world stage but what we have seen from the four qualifying groups for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup this year is how teams from West Asia are starting to show significant improvement.

“It will take time, hard work and dedication for West Asian nations to close the gap between them and their counterparts from ASEAN and in particular East Asia but it is refreshing to see how they are embracing the challenge.”

Jordan will join fellow qualifiers Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar, who topped Groups B, C and D respectively, and defending champions Australia, Japan, China and Korea Republic in the 2014 finals which will take place in Ho Chi Minh City from May 14 to 25 next year.

“I would like to take this opportunity to wish Jordan, as well as Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, who also impressed in their respective qualifying campaigns, the best of luck in the 2014 AFC Women’s Asian Cup finals where they must rise to the challenge faced when they take on the continent’s more experienced and established teams,” concluded the AFC President.

The AFC Women’s Asian Cup will be played in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, from May 14 to 25 next year and will serve as a qualifiers for the FIFA Women’s World Cup to be held in Canada June 6 to July 5, 2015. Top five from the AFC Women’s Asian Cup will earn a ticket to Canada.