BD face Lebanon in first Group-B match of SAFF Champ today

Sports Reporter :
Bangladesh Football team will face Lebanon Football team in their first Group-B match of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship at Bengaluru in India today. The game begins at 4.00pm (Bangladesh Standard Time). Private satellite sports channel T Sports will telecast the match live. According to the latest FIFA ranking, Bangladesh have taken the 192nd position, while Lebanon have taken the 99th position.
Before today’s match, Bangladesh faced Lebanon in two matches in 2011. Bangladesh lost to Lebanon by four goals to nil in the first match of the FIFA qualifiers, while Bangladesh defeated Lebanon by two goals to nil in the second match of the FIFA qualifiers.
Bangladesh Football team have got some time for coaching camp under supervision of Head Coach Javier Cabrera. Before the gala football meet, Bangladesh played a warm-up match against Tiffy Army Club of Cambodia in Cambodia recently. Bangladesh beat Tiffy Army Club by a solitary goal in that practice match. Bangladesh played a FIFA friendly match against Cambodia in Cambodia recently. Bangladesh recorded a 1-0 goal victory against their stronger opponents Cambodia in that match. It may be mentioned that according to the latest FIFA ranking, Cambodia have taken 176th position. The two recent victories will boost up Bangladesh Football team.
On the other hand, before take part in this match, Lebanon played a good number of matches recently. So, their preparation is better than that of Bangladesh.
It may be mentioned that a total of eight teams splitting into two groups are taking part in this year’s SAFF Championship. Bangladesh, Lebanon, Maldives, Bhutan are in Group-B, while hosts India, Kuwait, Pakistan and Nepal are in Group-A. Though Lebanon and Kuwait are not situated in South Asian Region, they are taking part in the competition as they got invitation to compete in the gala football meet.
Bangladesh will face Maldives on June 25 at 4.00pm (Bangladesh Standard Time). Bangladesh will meet Bhutan on June 28 at 8.00pm (Bangladesh Standard Time).
Kuwait will take on Nepal in the inaugural match on June 21. India will play their all Group-A matches at 8.00pm (Bangladesh Standard Time).
The matches of the group phases will come to an end on June 28.
The top two teams from each group will get tickets of the semi-finals. The winners of the semi-finals will face each other in the final.
The two semi-finals will be held on July 1. The final will be held on July 4. The time of the semi-finals and the final have not yet finalized.
Bangladesh Football squad: Anisur Rahman , Sahidul Alam, Mitul Marma (Goalkeepers),Topu Barman , Bishwanath Ghosh, Tariq Raihan Kazi , Rahmat Mia, Alomgir Molla, Mehedi Hasan , ISA Faysal (Defenders), Md Ridoy, Sohel Rana , Shekh Morsalin , Jamal Bhuyan, Mojibor Rahman Jony , Sohel Rana , Rabiul Hasan (Midfielders), Foysal Ahmed Fahim, Mohammad Ibrahim, Aminur Rahman,Rakib Hossain , Suman Reza and Rafiqul Islam (Forwards).