Qatar seals 2023 AFC Asian Cup repeat, unveiling multiple surprises and historic firsts, as fans bask in the drama of a tournament that was dubbed the best in Asia's football history.
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00:00 The 2023 Asian Cup has come to an end. Qatar are back-to-back champions after a thrilling final at La Salle.
00:08 So let's take a look back at what some are calling the most exciting Asian tournament of all time.
00:14 Hello and welcome to Football Now from Doha. A fantastic final on Saturday brought to a close what has been an incredible 2023 AFC Asian Cup.
00:29 In the end it was host Qatar who overcame Jordan to be crowned champions, becoming the first back-to-back winners of this competition for 20 years.
00:38 So let's find out just what it means to the country to lift the trophy on consecutive occasions.
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02:07 So Qatar are the winners but spare a thought for the runners-up Jordan. What an achievement for the side ranked 87th in FIFA's world rankings.
02:17 The talent in their squad shone brightly under new coach Hussain Amuta, who despite only being appointed last July has had an immeasurable impact on the team.
02:27 He's been a winner wherever he played and wherever he coached and we wanted a winner who can take this team and make that quantum leap so we can qualify to the World Cup hopefully and go deep in this tournament.
02:37 And he has delivered. The first few months it wasn't easy because he had to change the style of football completely. It's a whole new school.
02:43 But what he brought was discipline and attention to detail and the mental side. So he brought that aspect and the tactical aspect.
02:50 So he brought that in play and attention to the smallest detail and being very, very precise and meticulous and being the voice of reason for everyone.
02:59 Everyone listens to him. And they're a bunch of good boys by the way. They're good lads what we have here.
03:03 And it's good to get these guys exposed. The talent we have in Jordan long enough exposure globally.
03:08 So people can see what we have as a small country. A small country of 12 million. We have amazing talent when it comes to football.
03:14 Well one of the most inspiring stories to come out of this tournament was that of Palestine.
03:19 They defied the odds by making it out of the group stage for the first time in their history.
03:25 I caught up with some of their players to discuss just how proud the team are of making it this far.
03:31 For us to be in this round of 16 is amazing. It's the first time in the history that Palestine achieved this.
03:38 It's really special especially in these times for Palestine. The people of Palestine are suffering a lot.
03:43 And we bring some joy to the country, to the people. It makes it very special for us.
03:48 Thank God. We are very proud of our team. We put our heads up and we put everything we have into this tournament.
03:53 I urge everyone to respect Palestine in this tournament. And despite the difficult circumstances we are going through, we were able to achieve a great achievement for our country.
03:59 I am so proud. When I put this t-shirt and the flag with me, it's amazing. I am so proud.
04:05 I always want to fight to defend this country because we deserve the best. As all people in the world know it.
04:12 For me it's amazing to wear this flag in my chest and especially in my hands.
04:18 Well in a tournament of firsts, Qatar continue to set milestones as this edition saw the first ever female referee to feature at an Asian Cup.
04:28 Yoshimi Yamashita from Japan refereed Australia's opening game against India.
04:34 She described her inclusion at this competition as an honour.
04:38 As a female referee, I have a responsibility to connect it to the next generation.
04:46 So only us can show what the female referee do in this tournament. So we have to do our best for that.
04:54 As the first woman to referee at the tournament, it could be easy to worry about the amount of eyes on you.
05:00 But Yamashita says that once she steps onto the pitch, she feels any pressure she has on her disappears.
05:06 Of course I feel the pressure. It's a big pressure. But I can feel the pressure because I am here.
05:16 I am very happy and positive to feel the pressure.
05:22 But honestly, when I whistle, I forget about the pressure and focus on the game.
05:32 So I don't feel any pressure during the game.
05:35 That brings us to the end of this week's episode and the end of the AFC 2023 Asian Cup.
05:42 What a tournament it has been and congratulations to the champions, Qatar.
05:46 Do let us know your thoughts using the hashtag #FootballNowAC2023 and we'll see you next time. Bye for now.
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