The Malditas left for Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Sunday for the 2022 Asian Football Confederation Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers that will run later this month. 

The Filipinas, who ranked 68th in the FIFA Rankings, will first face Nepal (ranked 101st) in Group F on September 18 at the JAR Stadium at 3 p.m. (6 p.m. Philippine Standard Time) and Hong Kong (ranked 78th) on September 24 at JAR Stadium in Tashkent.

The team that emerges on top will secure a spot in the Women’s Asian Cup slated from January 20 to February 6.

The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) on Monday night unveiled the 22 players who will represent the country, which included team captain and goalkeeper Inna Palacios, defender hali Long as co-captain and will be joined by fellow 2019 Southeast Asian Games teammates Sara Castañeda, Camille Rodriguez, and Alisha del Campo.

Olivia Davies McDaniel and Isabelle Mapanao are newcomers that will join Palacios as the team’s goalkeepers.

Other defenders consist of Ryley Bugay, Sofia Harrison, Chelo Hodges, Patricia Tomanon, and Tara Shelton.

Manning the midfield are Castañeda, Rodriguez, Tahnai Annis, Malea Cesar, Anicka Castañeda, Charisa Lemoran, Rocelle Mendaño, Jessica Miclat, Alyssa Ube, and Camille Wilson.

The team will be guided by Marlon Maro as head coach and will be assisted by Michael Agbayani, Jose Maria Aberasturi, Marlon Piñero, Anthony Albao, and Rose Ton Bariñan.