Dhaka: Bangladesh national women’s football team captain Afeida Khandakar expressed their determination to uphold their winning streak in the upcoming SAFF U-20 Women’s Championship. The sixth edition is set to take place from July 11-21 at the Bashundhara Kings arena in Dhaka. Bangladesh, the joint defending champions along with India, will aim to retain their title in the absence of India this year.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Afeida shared at a press conference held at the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) Bhaban that the team has had limited preparation time since returning from the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers. She emphasized the importance of maintaining their winning momentum as defending champions of South Asia. Afeida noted that every team in the tournament is strong, and there is no room for underestimating opponents, expressing confidence in her team’s ability to deliver strong performances match by match.
Afeida highlighted the positive synergy between senior and junior players, crediting coach Peter Butler for fostering a cohesive environment. Addressing concerns about maintaining focus post the AFC Asian Cup, she assured that the team is committed to playing with full concentration regardless of the opponent.
Head coach Peter James Butler remarked on the team’s transition to a different phase following the Asian Cup. He described the SAFF Championship as a developmental opportunity for players, emphasizing the need for performance over results.
BFF and AFC member, and Bangladesh women’s football wing chairman Mahfuza Akter Kiron, announced that this year’s tournament would differ slightly, adopting a round-robin league format where the team with the highest points will be crowned champions. Despite India’s absence, Mahfuza expressed confidence in Bangladesh playing competitive matches and securing the championship.
She further noted that Bangladesh’s recent performances could improve their FIFA ranking, with the next update expected on August 7. The tournament will feature Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka, with Nepal holding the highest rank among the participants.
All matches of the tournament will be live-streamed by the private satellite channel T-Sports.