Following their 3-1 win over the Maldives, Bangladesh are now just a win away from reaching the semi-finals of the Bangabandhu SAFF Championship 2023, breaking a 14-year curse of not doing so.
The Red and Greens now move their focus to Bhutan, whom they will face on Wednesday, and for the first time in the tournament, they are going in as the favourites.
While Bangladesh are ranked seven steps below Bhutan’s FIFA ranking of 185, they will still head into the game with the upper hand as Bhutan currently sit bottom of Group B following their defeats to the Maldives and Lebanon.
Bangladesh are also ahead on head-to-head, with the Red and Greens winning four out of their last five clashes, including a 2-0 win over them in the last SAFF Championship.
Their win over the Maldives has put Bangladesh in a position from where a win would see them qualify for the semi-finals. And that is why, the celebrations were muted after the first win over the Maldives in the SAFF Championship in 20 years.
“After the Maldives match, the coach told us that the coming matches were important because we have not reached the semi-finals of the SAFF Championship for a long time. First, we have to reach there, and then there will be celebrations,” Bangladesh winger Mohammad Ibrahim said.
The player added, “Our first target was reaching the semis. At the start of our camp in Dhaka, the coach told us that it was our primary goal and that if we got there, we will plan for the final.
Bangladesh’s concern ahead of their clash against Bhutan is in their defence as Tariq Kazi, who scored Bangladesh’s second goal in their win over the Maldives, had to go off injured with an ankle injury during that game. The player had to be carried off the pitch, and whether he can play in their deciding game against Bhutan is still unsure.
“His medication started today. When the doctors and physio tell us that he is ready, he will play. He wanted to come to training today (Monday) but we cannot let him do that. We told him to rest. Once the medication is done, we will know when he will be available,” Bangladesh Team Manager Amer Khan provided an update on the centre-back.
If Tariq is indeed unavailable on Wednesday, Md Mehedi Hasan, who came on as a substitute against the Maldives, would partner up with Topu Barman in the heart of the Bangladesh defence.
Ibrahim may also find himself in the XI instead of Sohel Rana, while it is likely that Rakib Hossain and Foysal Ahmed Fahim to partner up up-front.
For now, Bangladesh’s goal is simple – win against Bhutan, ensure a semi-final spot, and break the 14-year curse. Whether they can do it is the question.
