Sports Reporter :
Defending champions Bangladesh National Women’s Football team will take on India National Women’s Football team in their crucial Group-A match of the SAFF Women’s Championship today at Dasharath Rangasala Stadium in Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal. The match will kick-off at 5:45pm (Bangladesh Standard Time).
India confirmed their semi-final berth bagging three points from one match.
On the other hand, Tigresses earned one point from one match.
Pakistan also collected one point from two matches.
India defeated Pakistan by 5-2 goals in their first Group-A match at the same venue on October 17.
Bangladesh drew 1-1 with Pakistan in their first Group-A match at the same venue on October 20.
If Bangladesh beat India in today’s match, the Tigresses will reach the semi-final.
If the Tigresses draw with India, Bangladesh will take place in the last four.
On the other hand, if Bangladesh taste a massive defeat to India, Bangladesh have to bid Good-bye the tournament.
Before today’s match, Bangladesh and India faced each other in eight matches. Of them, India won six matches, while Bangladesh recorded one victory and rest of the one match ended in a draw.
But in their last occasion, Bangladesh defeated India by three goals to nil.
Besides, the Tigresses made history beating Nepal by a solitary goal in the final of the SAFF Women’s Championship 2022 at the same venue and emerged the champions in the tournament, the most prestigious football meet for the female booters of the South Asian Region.
Before today’s match, Bangladesh National Women’s Football team took part their practice session under supervision of their Head Coach Peter James Butler at Kathmandu on Tuesday.
Butler said, ” My girls played well against Pakistan. They played well but the fate did not act in favour of us. If my girls can execute the chances, I believe they can earn a good result. Our main target will be win against India.
I have made a game plan to bring that kind of result. India are strong side. But there are some weaknesses in their defence. I hope my girls will take that advantage.”
Bangladesh Women’s Football squad: Rupna Chakma, Yeazman Begum, Mile Akter, Masura Parvin, Afeida Khandakar, Sheuli Azim, Shamsunnahar (Sr.), Nilifa Yasmin Nila, Kohati Kisku, Monika Chakma, Maria Manda, Sapna Rani, Munki Akter, Airin Akter, Sumaya Matsushima, Sanjida Akter, Ritu Porno Chakma, Shaheda Akter Ripa, Sabina Khatun, Tohura Khatun, Shamsunnahar (Jr.), Krishna Rani Sarkar and Sagorika.