Bangladesh women’s football team began their AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers campaign with a resounding win against Bahrain, a team ranked 36 places higher. However, they face their toughest test next as they prepare to play hosts Myanmar on Wednesday. Despite Myanmar’s superior ranking and past dominance in head-to-head encounters, the Bangladesh team remains confident. They believe that if they play their natural game and follow their coach’s strategies, they can overcome the odds this time.
After their big victory against Bahrain, the team took a well-deserved break on Monday, engaging in recovery activities including swimming and gym sessions instead of field practice. Forward Rituparna Chakma, who scored Bangladesh’s second goal against Bahrain, dedicated her goal to her late younger brother on his third death anniversary, expressing her emotional motivation in a video message released by the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF).
Team manager Mahabubur Rahman Litu praised the girls for giving their 100% in the first match and shared optimism for the next game against Myanmar, emphasizing that the team is focusing on recovery and preparation. Captain Afeeda Khandaker echoed the confidence, stating their target was to win the first match by a big margin, which they achieved, and now their focus is entirely on executing the coach’s plan against Myanmar.
Myanmar, meanwhile, showed their dominance by crushing Turkmenistan 8-0 in their opening match. Bangladesh coach Peter Butler acknowledged the challenge of playing against a strong team supported by home fans but expressed readiness and faith in his squad. He praised their performance against Bahrain, noting that the win was a result of consistent hard work and hopes the team will maintain their momentum in the upcoming critical match that could define their journey in the qualifiers.
