Reigning champions Bangladesh Under-19 women football team will take on India in their second encounter in the ongoing SAFF Under-19 Championship at Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Shipahi Mostafa Kamal Stadium, Kamalapur at 7:00 p.m. on today.
Bangladesh won their first match against Nepal by 3-1 on Saturday while India toys with Bhutan in their opening encounter drubbing by 10-0 on same day. Both the teams have three points but India is in top position on goal average. Bangladesh scored three and conceded one goal when India scored 10 goals and kept clean sheet against Bhutan.
Bangladesh skipper Afida Khondokar thinks the match against India would be very tough. They are now mentally high after the big win in the first match against Bhutan. To win against mighty India, Bangladesh would have to display an extraordinary performance. Bangladesh and India played a goalless draw in the last edition of the tournament at the same venue in 2023 when the hosts (Bangladesh) triumphed as unbeaten champions.
Bangladesh forwards Mosammat Sagorica, Shopna Rani, Ety Khatun and Surma Jannat, on whom the team depend much, would have to perform at their optimum level.
Afida Khatun and Co. will have to face off stronger opponents. Specially, Siban Devi and Pooja can change the fate of the match at any time. So, the defence line of Bangladesh would have to be more careful to halt the Indian strikers while Bibi Rita, Surma Jannat and Munki Akhter will manage the defence line.
Bangladesh coach Saiful Bari Titu said, “We want to progress match by match. We beat Nepal and it is one step closer to the final.”
Meanwhile, Indian coach Sukla Dutta said, “We know Bangladesh is the defending champions, so we have taken preparation ourselves in that way after forming the squad but we are confident that we will perform strongly in a bid to win the title though Bangladesh will get home advantage.”