'Para sa bayan': Filipina5 looks to bounce back vs. Morocco to keep World Cup hopes alive

Pivot Isabella Flanigan in action for Filipina5's opening match against Poland in the 2025 FIFA Futsal Women's World Cup opener. (Photo: PFF)

There's no time for the Philippine women's national futsal team to dwell on their disappointing start in the 2025 FIFA Futsal Women's World Cup.

They now face reigning African champion Morocco in their second match in Group A as they try to stay in contention for the quarterfinals at the Philsports Arena in Pasig on Monday, November 24.

Last Friday, the Filipina5 and the Atlas Lionesses suffered identical 6-0 defeats at the hands of powerhouses Poland and Argentina, respectively.

Still, on paper, world no. 31 Morocco remains the favorite against the host, ranked 63rd in the FIFA women's futsal rankings.

Bracing for a tough duel, Philippine forward Dionesa Tolentin assured the Filipino hopefuls that they'll give Morocco a run for their money.

“Bilog po ang bola,” she said, as quoted by Tempo. “Gagawin po namin ang lahat para maipanalo ‘yung laban at lalaban kami para sa team, sa bayan, and sa mga taong naniniwala sa amin.”

While facing the Moroccans is an enormous task, Filipina5 captain Isabella Flanigan stressed that their squad's focus was on improving themselves.

“We don’t want to think about Morocco too much. We want to focus a lot on our game. We want to fix our mistakes and look at what we can do. We want to play our own game and, if we do, I believe we can get the result,” said the 20-year-old pivot in a FIFA preview story.

Roy Moore, who was known for his futsal analysis and grassroots works in the Philippines, wrote on Facebook that the Filipina5 needs to work on its defensive marking and passing combinations, among other aspects of its game.

Goalkeeper Samantha Hughes played a pivotal role for the Philippine defense after holding her own against the Polish barrage, saving 19 shots. The Poles amassed 68 attacking attempts, 25 of which were on target. 

Against Morocco, the Philippines can't afford to leave the defensive workload almost entirely on her. Despite the lopsided scoreline, the Moroccans were only six shots behind the Argentines (33-27). They, however, just couldn't convert. Their offense was led by forward Meryem Hajri, who had a game-high 11 shot attempts.

We want to focus a lot on our game. We want to fix our mistakes and look at what we can do. We want to play our own game and, if we do, I believe we can get the result. – Isabella Flannigan, Filipina5 captain and pivot

Offensively, the Philippines had its share of scoring chances but lacked clinical finishing. Of the country's 26 total attempts at goal, only six were on target. Spanish mentor Rafa Merino had two full days to find a solution for her wards' offensive woes.

With odds still stacked against them, Flanigan hoped the Filipina5 could draw inspiration from their good defensive structure and smooth transitions, among other “positives” they've shown against Poland.

ALSO READ: Filipina5 suffers humbling loss over Poland in FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup debut

“We’ve got a lot to fix, but we’ve also got a lot to build on,” she said, according to Venice Furio, who co-founded “Laban Filipinas,” a sports media outlet dedicated to supporting Filipina athletes.

Merino, meanwhile, expressed confidence that his charges would be wiser and inspired with the home crowd behind them.

“We're in the World Cup, so every team will be difficult. Probably the other team has more experience than we do, but what makes us different is the energy that we have. We bring a lot of good vibes to the table and energy,” the Spanish mentor said through an interpreter in the mixed zone.