Women Football: Sasaki looks to the future, names strong 41-player squad for Nigeria

Japan women coach Sasaki Norio has named two squads for the two-game series against Nigeria in an attempt to give his team more depth in the future.

With Game 1 slated for September 22 in Isahaya, Nagasaki Prefecture, and Game 2 scheduled for September 26 in Chiba, the Japan women’s team boss called up a total of 41 players, which will be split into two squads to train for the respective games.

Only Miyama Aya of Okayama Yunogo Belle, Kawasumi Nahomi of INAC Kobe Leonessa and Ogimi Yuki of Chelsea three members from the victorious 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup and 2012 Olympic silver medallists will take part in both camps.

Sawa Homare, the winner of the FIFA Women’s Ballon d’Or in 2011, has returned to the Nadeshiko after skipping their European tour in June due to an injury. Her INAC Kobe teammate Kinga Yukari and Vegalta Sendai Ladies defender Sameshima Aya are also back after injury.

Among the 11 new players called up is Miyake Shiori of the JFA Academy. The 17-year-old defender will take part in the Nagasaki squad.

Tanaka Yoko of Kobe and Tanaka Mina of Beleza, who helped inspire the Young Nadeshiko to the bronze medal at the FIFA Women’s U-20 World Cup last summer, will join the Nagasaki squad and Chiba squad, respectively.

Sasaki said, “I want to get a good look at some players at the camps and allow other players to experience the feeling of working with us at the Nadeshiko.

“But the bottom line is that it is important to get an idea of what the current situation is internationally and what we have to work on to compete against the rest of the world.

“Bearing that in mind, I am hoping that our players can make further development and be good candidates for our squad in the future.”

Asked about Nigeria, Sasaki said, “They are a good team having added modern football to their physical strength.

“I have a bitter memory with them at the U-20 World Cup in Germany [in 2010], and the Nadeshiko have lost to them before, so this will be a precious experience for us to play them for our future, especially with regard to the next World Cup.”

In their only previous meeting, Japan lost 1-0 to the Nigerians in the group stage at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Game 1 is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. Japan Time at Nagasaki Prefectural Sports and Recreational Park Track and Field Stadium in Isahaya, while Game 2 will kick off at 7:15 pm Japan Time at Fukuda Denshi Arena in Chiba.

Squad for Game 1:

Goalkeepers: FUKUMOTO Miho (Okayama Yunogo Belle), KAIHORI Ayumi (INAC Kobe Leonessa)

Defenders: KINGA Yukari (INAC Kobe Leonessa), NAKANO Manami (Okayama Yunogo Belle), ISOKANE Midori (INAC Kobe Leonessa), KITAHARA Kana (Albirex Niigata Ladies), TAKARA Ryoko (Vegalta Sendai Ladies), KADO Yuka (Okayama Yunogo Belle), NAKAMURA Kaede (Albirex Niigata Ladies), MIYAKE Shiori (JFA Academy Fukushima)

Midfielders: SAWA Homare (INAC Kobe Leonessa), MIYAMA Aya (Okayama Yunogo Belle), KAWASUMI Nahomi (INAC Kobe Leonessa), KAMIONOBE Megumi (Albirex Niigata Ladies), YAMAZAKI Marumi (Albirex Niigata Ladies), NAKAJIMA Emi (INAC Kobe Leonessa), SUGITA Ami (FC Kibi International University Charme), TANAKA Yoko (INAC Kobe Leonessa)

Forwards: MARUYAMA Karina (Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki), OGIMI Yuki (Chelsea FC Ladies), ARIMACHI Saori (Okayama Yunogo Belle), TAKASE Megumi (INAC Kobe Leonessa)

Squad for Game 2:

Goalkeepers: SOYAMA Kanako (NTV Beleza), KUNO Fubuki (Iga FC Kunoichi), YAMANE Erina (JEF United Ichihara-Chiba Ladies)

Defenders: IWASHIMIZU Azusa (NTV Beleza), SAMESHIMA Aya (Vegalta Sendai Ladies), ARIYOSHI Saori (NTV Beleza), OGAWA Shiho (JEF United Ichihara-Chiba Ladies), OSAFUNE Kana (Vegalta Sendai Ladies), AZAMI Rie (AS Elfen Sayama FC), UENO Saki (JEF United Ichihara-Chiba Ladies)

Midfielders: MIYAMA Aya (Okayama Yunogo Belle), KAWASUMI Nahomi (INAC Kobe Leonessa), SAKAGUCHI Mizuho (NTV Beleza), NAKADE Hikari (IGA FC Kunoichi), KAWAMURA Yuri (JEF United Ichihara-Chiba Ladies), KIRYU Nanase (NTV Beleza), YOSHIMI Natsuki (Nojima Stella Kanagawa)

Forwards: OHNO Shinobu (AS Elfen Sayama), OGIMI Yuki (Chelsea FC Ladies), GOTO Michi (Urawa Reds Ladies), SUGASAWA Yuika (JEF United Ichihara-Chiba Ladies), TANAKA Mina (NTV Beleza)