United News of Bangladesh

North Korea’s Naegohyang FC lifted the Asian Women’s Champions League title on Saturday after edging Japan’s Tokyo Verdy Beleza 1-0 in the final held in Suwon. Kim Kyong Yong scored the decisive goal just before halftime, marking her fourth strike of the tournament. The North Korean forward, who had also netted the winner in the semifinal against South Korea’s Suwon FC, finished from inside the box after being set up by Kim Jung, who broke through the Japanese defence. Played at the Suwon Sports Complex, the match saw limited spectators but Naegohyang FC created more scoring opportunities and maintained control in a closely contested final. Their victory secures the title in only the second edition of the 12-team continental competition, following Wuhan Jiangda’s win last year. The triumph adds to North Korea’s growing dominance in women’s football. In 2024, its national sides won both the FIFA U-20 and U-17 Women’s World Cups, with the U-17 team retaining their crown in 2025. Regionally, North Korea also captured the 2024 AFC Women’s Asian Cup and multiple U-17 continental titles. “We don’t have enough time to explain the evolution of our national football programs,” Naegohyang head coach Ri Yu Il said ahead of the final. “We have a specialised player development system. Players are trained from a young age and as they grow older, they contribute to strong performances in AFC and FIFA competitions.”