Acting president of Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Zhang Jilong on Thursady praised the outstanding performance of Asian football teams in 2012, saying they have become real contenders in the global football arena.

Speaking at the AFC Annual Award gala, Zhang said Asian teams " had flown the Asian flags higher" by put on convincing performance at the FIFA tournaments.

"Today, the Asian teams are serious contenders for titles worldwide," he said.

The Japan women's football team, which won the silver medal at the London Olymics after lifting the FIFA Women's World Cup last year, was awarded the AFC Natioanl Team of the Year for women 2012.

The South Korean Olympic team was named the best men's national team of the year as the team won the bronze medal in London. It defeated Japan, another Asian team, in the 3rd place playoff.

Meanwhile, Zhang mentioned that many Asian footballer has been pursuing higher career achievement outside Asia and admitted the urgency to "expand the horizon of the AFC awards."

Japanese midfielder Shinji Kagawa of the English Premier League giants Manchester United became the first ever winner of the newly launched AFC Asian International Player of the Year.

Kagawa had been a leading nominee of last year's AFC Player of the year, but failed to win eventually as the award only presented to the nominees that attend the award ceremony. The Japanese was not present at the gala because the ongoing European league matches at that time.

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