MANILA – The Philippine women’s football team has trimmed down its roster to 23 players with less than a month before the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
The Filipinas, which is to be handled by head coach Alen Stajcic, is to be bannered by co-captains Tahnai Annis and Hali Long along with veterans Anicka Castañeda and Sarina Bolden.
“Over the last 18 months, we’ve given a lot of players their opportunity and grown the depth of this squad to a substantial level,” said Stajcic. “In a positive way, we’ve got such a pool of players that made the final 23 even more difficult than I thought it would be.”
Olivia McDaniel, Kiara Fontanilla, and Kaiya Jota are listed as goal keepers, while the team’s defenders are Alicia Barker, Reina Bonta, Jessika Cowart, Malea Cesar, Sofia Harrison, Dominique Randle and Angie Beard.
The midfield will be composed of Ryley Bugay, Sara Eggesvik, Quinley Quezada, and Jaclyn Sawicki, while the attack line will have Isabella Flanigan, Carleigh Frilles, Katrina Guillou, Chandler McDaniel, and Meryll Serrano.
“It was such an extremely tough choice, but these players were ultimately the ones who put their hands up and impressed the most in recent times and based on current form,” said Stajcic.
“They are the ones that my coaching staff and myself think will represent the Filipinas the best and give us the best possible chance to perform at our peak in the World Cup,” he added.
Inna Palacios, Isabella Pasion and Maya Alcantara, have been named as the team’s reserves if ever changes are needed in the players in the regular roster, according to team manager Jefferson Cheng.
The Filipinas, which will enter the tournament ranked 46th in the world, will kick off their campaign against Switzerland on July 21, followed by a match against New Zealand, on July 25 and Norway on July 30.
If the national women’s football team finishes in the top two of Group A, their next match will be on August 5 against a team from Group C./PN
