The Filipina5 are set to give the home crowd another chance at a win when they face Morocco in Group A of the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City on Monday, November 24. Both teams are coming off 0-6 opening losses, making this clash vital for earning their first points.

Morocco enters the match as reigning Women’s Futsal Africa Cup of Nations champions and are ranked 31st in the world, 42 spots higher than the Filipina5. The Philippine team is determined to harness its energy and focus on applying lessons from their debut against Poland.

Filipina5 ready to rally in front of home fans

Co-skipper Inday Tolentin emphasized the team’s fight for their supporters. “Gagawin po namin ang lahat para maipanalo ‘yung laban at lalaban kami para sa team, para sa bayan and para sa mga taong naniniwala sa amin,” she said.

The Filipina5 aim to turn their energy into a strong performance against the higher-ranked Moroccans. Coach Rafa Merino noted that the team’s enthusiasm and good vibes could make the difference despite the other team’s experience. “We bring a lot of good vibes to the table and energy,” he said through an interpreter.

Group action highlights set the stage

Earlier in Group A, Argentina and Poland clashed with the top spot in contention. The results provided context for the Filipina5 as they navigate their own challenging matchup.

Other groups saw reigning Asian champion Japan thrash New Zealand, 6-0, in Group C. Meanwhile, Spain and Colombia recorded wins against Thailand, 5-2, and Canada, 2-0, respectively, in Group B, underscoring the competitive landscape of the tournament.