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AFC Under-20 qualifiers

Bangladesh women kick off mission against Turkmenistan today


Published : 09 Mar 2023 09:15 PM

Bangladesh Under-20 women will kick off their mission of playing in the AFC-20, 2024 final phase with taking on Turkmenistan today.

The match will take place at the BirShreshtha Mostafa Kamal Stadium at 3pm. 

Bangladesh will enjoy a be as host advantage when head coach Golam Rabbani Choton said that his players are ready to produce their best performances when they will take on Turkmenistan in a do-or-die encounter, as Iran are just stepped to go forward after a big margin 7-1 win over in their first match on Wednesday.   

The young Red and Green will have to win to keep up their qualification hopes in the next round but if they would suffer defeat will be a blow, as Iran will throw leaving them to go into the next phase as the group leaders.

Choton, a long time server as the head coach of all the age groups of women’s football national teams, said, “We are focusing on the match. We have to play the way we should, and hopefully we can go through to the next round.”  

“In fact, in the last SAFF Under-20 games against India, Nepal and Bhutan, the way they played, if they could keep up the momentum we will be win. We must focus on mentally and tactically. This is the match that will decides our fate, so we have to be mentally present and on top form because it’s all will decide our progress.” 

Meanwhile, Bangladesh won SAFF Under-20 women championship trophy after defeating Bhutan and Nepal when drew with India. 

However, Choton about his team’s condition said, “We have not so many injuries, but Samsunnahar (Jr) has a minor, we are still hopeful that she will comeback, we will wait for tomorrow morning and will be able to find solutions.” 

Meanwhile, Choton informed that Samsunnahar had the injury in practice a session.

“I think Turkmenistan will try heart and soul to defend deep and to win, so we believe we will create spaces behind their defence, and hopefully our forwards will be able to take their chances will come to their ways.”  

It would be a concerning start for Bangladesh to the campaign against Turkmenistan, as they conceded seven goals in the opening match against Iran. Choton about their target to score goals against Turkmenistan, said, “It’s not possible to say, but the girls will play their own game and will be able to score goals.”   

“This isvery important match and we expected that we should win. Our next match will be against Iran might be tougher encounter, so we have to win this match to confirm a room in the next round,” Choton replied to a query. 

The victory would be huge for the future of Bangladesh girls, though their head coach might be has come under significant pressure amid a 7-1 win of Iran against Turkmenistan.