New Delhi [India], January 3 (ANI): India, under Swedish Thomas Dennerby, enters the January AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2022 with the aim of reaching the quarter-final stage of the continental tournament.
The hosts India were a competitive side in the early editions of the Asian finals, finishing second in 1979 and 1983. But the decades since then have provided little to celebrate for the Blue Tigresses. In fact, India have participated in only five of the last 14 editions, and never got further than the group stage.
Competing as hosts for the upcoming Asian Cup for women, however, gives India the chance to rewrite some of those statistics, even though Dennerby – who took over in August – is aware of how tough his task is.
Asked about his confidence in taking India to their first women’s World Cup in 2023, the head coach told FIFA.com: “Let’s take it step by step. Of course we have a dream, and it’s starting with us being one of the “Eight teams in the quarterfinals of the Asian Cup. If we can reach that level, anything can happen. I can only promise everyone that we will go out with a winning mentality and make an enormous effort. And that we will fight with our lives.” The former Sweden and Nigeria manager also reopened his greatest achievement as a coach and said: “It is difficult to rank everything. In fact, everything depends on where you are. In Sweden, they always want you to win medals, while “We in Nigeria won the AFCON Championship and qualified for the Women’s World Cup. I still have a dream, and at the moment we see India reach the quarterfinals of this Asian Cup for Women.” India is the host. in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022, has been placed in Group A, where they will face f against IR Iran (January 20), Chinese Taipei (January 23) and China (January 26).
With 12 teams participating in the group stage, eight of them will advance to the quarter-finals, and depending on other results, they can take closer steps towards qualifying for the Women’s World Cup, Australia 2023. (ANI)