TOKYO, FEB 27: North Korea womens football coach Ri Yu Il is targeting a place at the Paris Olympics "for the glory of our country" in Wednesdays winner-takes-all qualifying showdown with Japan in Tokyo.
The two sides drew 0-0 in Saturdays first leg on neutral ground in Saudi Arabia and the winners will claim one of two Asian berths at the Games.
Ri said his players would "draw power from representing our country" at Tokyos National Stadium but warned that Japan would feel the same passion.
"The Japan team and the North Korea team both have their nations flags on their shirts," he said on the eve of the game.
"We are representing our country and we want to qualify for the Paris Olympics for the glory of our country.
"We want to show our quality, just like every country does." The first leg was played in Jeddah after Japans football association asked Asian officials to move it from Pyongyang over a lack of operational transparency and a scarcity of flights.
The venue was not confirmed until just days before the game and Japan captain Saki Kumagai criticised officials for leaving it so late.
The North Korean team arrived in Tokyo for the return leg a day earlier than Japan and were greeted at the airport by a large group of their fans. North Korean supporters are also expected to come out in force for the game and Ri said "it won be like an away game it will be like we
e coming home".
"They are in a foreign country so they feel some anxiety but our compatriots coming to meet them at the airport really made them happy."
North Korea returned to international football at last years Asian Games for the first time since before the coronavirus pandemic and lost 4-1 to Japan in the final in Hangzhou. —AFP
