Ri’s charges produced a masterful performance to overturn Ai Tsujisawa’s opener with Jon Ryong jong scoring twice as DPR Korea added the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2024 title to the AFC U-19 Women’s Championship won in 2007.

“I’m delighted to be here and honoured to be the champion. Today’s victory is a testament to the efforts of all team members.

“They all displayed tremendous dedication until the end. It is a great gift to our country, our fans, and a wholehearted triumph,” said the 40-year-old Ri.

“In the first half, we conceded a goal, which was not what we had anticipated. However, during the half-time interval, I advised the players to remain composed and we managed to better our first-half performance.

“The distinguishing factor is how we manage our players’ condition. Football demands meticulous conditioning and only when the team achieves peak physical fitness can we play the style of football we aspire to.”

Ri explained that he maintained a simple philosophy in his tactics, emphasising the importance of striking a balance between defence and attack.

“Tactically, we aimed for a balance between defence and transitioning into swift counter-attacks. I maintained open communication with the players regarding my tactics and they executed them impeccably.”“I utilised the half-time break effectively, speaking to each player individually. I emphasised the importance of teamwork and in the second half, they performed well demonstrating a clear understanding of my instructions.”

Having ended their run of five consecutive runners-up finishes in the AFC U-19 Women’s Championship, DPR Korea will now target a third FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup title, with this year’s edition scheduled for August 31-September 22 in Colombia.