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Three Wanderers named in CommBank Young Matildas squad selected for 2024 AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup Round 1 Qualifiers

CommBank Young Matildas head coach Leah Blayney has selected a 23-player squad to travel to the Kyrgyz Republic next month for the first round of the 2024 AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers. 

Australia’s U-20 Women’s National Team will face Guam and hosts Kyrgyz Republic in Group C of the Round 1 Qualifiers with the group winner progressing to Round 2 in June 2023. 

Selection of the squad has followed three training camps and international matches over the past six months that saw 43 different players called up for the start of the new U-20 cycle. 

Blayney said that the selected players are eager to commence the qualifiers positively in Bishkek. 

“I can’t fault the way all the players have undertaken the preparations for the Round 1 Qualifiers over the past six months,” Blayney said.  “Their diligence and enthusiasm made the selection of the final 23 an incredibly challenging one with so much talent available across Australia.” 

“Our final 23 reflects the needs of the squad to ensure balance across all positions with the players named providing unique attributes to the collective.  We have been diligent with our scouting network with the mixture of Liberty A-League Women’s, National Premier Leagues, metro and regional, and international players sending the message that we will consider any footballer we believe can be valuable to our ultimate goal.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 04: Gemma Ferris of the Wanderers controls the ball during the round13 A-League Women’s match between Melbourne Victory and Western Sydney Wanderers at CB Smith Reserve, on February 04, 2023, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

“Qualification for the 2024 AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup will be a long process and, while those who were not selected this time around would be disappointed, it is important to recognise their contribution in elevating the training standard and highlighting that there will be several future openings.” 

For a majority of the roster, it will be their first taste of international competition football at the U-20 age group with only seven players returning from the CommBank Young Matildas 2022 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup™ campaign.

The squad sees strong representation from the Liberty A-League Women’s competition with 19 of the 23 currently on the rosters of ten different clubs. Several have starred in the competition with strong performances across the 15 rounds of the 2022/23 season.  Seven different Member Federations are also featured including a number of players from regional Australia.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 12: Sienna Saveska of the Wanderers and Grace Wisnewski of Phoenix compete for the ball during the round 14 A-League Women’s match between Western Sydney Wanderers and Wellington Phoenix at Wanderers Football Park, on February 12, 2023, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)

“This will be an important trip for us to not only ensure we progress to the next stage but also ingrain good foundations that will benefit us across the next two years.”  

“Regardless of the opponent, we take every match seriously as they are not only occasions where we can develop but also where we can establish strong habits for future tests.  There is an unknown quality to the opposition which by necessity means we need to ensure full focus on our own performances, continued building of cohesion and executing our playing style.” 

Players and staff will depart Australia on 3 March 2023 with the CommBank Young Matildas’ opening match kicking off at 8.00 pm on 6 March 2023 (local time).

2024 AFC U-20 WOMEN’S ASIAN CUP | ROUND 1 QUALIFIERS | GROUP C

Guam v Australia
Date: 7 March 2023
Time: 1:00 am AEDT
Venue: Dolen Omurzakov Stadium, Bishkek

Australia v Kyrgyz Republic 
Date: 11 March 2023
Time: 1:00 am AEDT
Venue: Dolen Omurzakov Stadium, Bishkek

COMMBANK YOUNG MATILDAS SQUAD | 2024 AFC U-20 WOMEN’S ASIAN CUP | ROUND 1 QUALIFIERS 

NAME POSITION CLUB | MEMBER FEDERATION
Alexia APOSTOLAKISDefenderWestern Sydney Wanderers | Football NSW
Tegan BERTOLISSIODefenderMacarthur Rams | Football NSW
Milly BOUGHTONMidfielderWest Ham United | Football NSW 
Ava BRIEDISMidfielderMelbourne Victory FC | Football Victoria
Claudia CICCOForwardWellington Phoenix FC | Football NSW
Jynaya DOS SANTOSForwardSydney FC | Football NSW
Gemma FERRISDefenderWestern Sydney Wanderers | Football NSW
Tahlia FRANCOGoalkeeperSydney FC | Football NSW
Daniela GALICMidfielderMelbourne City FC | Football NSW
Sasha GROVEForwardCanberra United FC | Capital Football
Shay HOLLMANMidfielderSydney FC | Football NSW
Kahli JOHNSONForwardWestern United | Football NSW
Zara KRUGERMidfielderBrisbane Roar FC | Football Queensland
Chloe LINCOLNGoalkeeperCanberra United FC | Northern NSW
Maya LOBODefenderMacarthur Rams | Football NSW
Tijan MCKENNADefenderPerth Glory FC | Football West
Alana MURPHYMidfielderMelbourne Victory FC | Football Victoria
Emilia MURRAYForwardAdelaide United FC | Football South Australia
Jessika NASHDefenderMelbourne Victory FC | Football NSW
Ella O’GRADYForwardFootball Queensland-QAS | Football Queensland
Sienna SAVESKAForwardWestern Sydney Wanderers | Football NSW
Anika STAJCICForwardSydney FC | Football NSW
Grace WILSONGoalkeeperAdelaide United FC | Football South Australia