Japanese coach reveals 'difficult opponent' if Vietnam enters quarter-finals

Vietnam U20 women's team defeats Bangladesh U20 women's team 1-0 in the last match of Group A at the AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup 2026, Coach Okiyama Masahiko is pleased with the players' competitive attitude during the second half.

Vietnam U20 women's team secures a 1-0 victory over Bangladesh U20 women's team in the final Group A match of the AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup 2026, thereby completing the group stage with a perfect 3 points in a match considered challenging. Head coach Okiyama Masahiko highly praises the players' fighting spirit, especially in the second half.

“The players tried their best and we earned 3 points. In the first half, the players' performance was not good, and after entering the locker room, I encouraged them to regain confidence so they could play more confidently. In the second half, the players performed very well. I am very satisfied with that,” Coach Okiyama shared.

Besides the positive result, the Japanese coach also expressed regret that the team created many opportunities but could not convert them into goals to improve the score difference. “We had many scoring opportunities but could not capitalize on them. We also know that Bangladesh's goalkeeper played very well…”, he said.

Regarding the opponent Bangladesh U20 women's team, Coach Okiyama commented that this is a team with good physical strength and speed, playing fiercely. “They have speed and physical strength. In the recent match, they played very strongly. In the second half, they changed their tactics a bit, so they might not have adapted and played well”, he remarked.

This victory helps Vietnam U20 women's team maintain their chance to advance, but the team still needs to wait for the results of other groups to determine the quarter-final position. Coach Okiyama stated that if they qualify, the team will face strong opponents like Japan or Australia.

“If we advance, the opponents will be Japan or Australia. These are both strong teams among Asia's top groups. However, we still have time to prepare well and will strive to compete”, the coach affirmed, showing determination with his players towards the upcoming challenges in the tournament.