Bangladesh’s 2-1 defeat to Singapore in the Asian Cup Qualifiers wasn’t just a defeat -- it was a missed opportunity to build something better with the right tools finally in hand. And that’s exactly what former striker and Mohammedan’s league-winning coach Alfaz Ahmed is talking about: we finally have the parts, but we don’t know how to assemble the machine.
Despite a 2-0 defeat to Singapore in their Asian Cup Qualifiers encounter at the National Stadium on Tuesday, Bangladesh head coach Javier Cabrera insisted his side was the better team and described the result as deeply disappointing.
The Daily Star’s Ekush Tapadar, Anisur Rahman, and Atique Anam delve into Bangladesh’s prospects in this much-anticipated encounter, examine the influence of these high-profile players on the national team and address the persistent issues crippling the country's domestic football.
Bangladesh football team head coach Javier Cabrera said that he wants to present a victory against Singapore in their upcoming AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers game as an Eid gift to the nation.
A few expatriates have made their way into Bangladesh football in recent times, with Canada-based Shamit Shome being the latest addition after England-based Hamza Choudhury, Fahamedul Islam from Italy, Finland-based Tarik Kazi, and Denmark-based Jamal Bhuiyan.
The Bangladesh national football team is set to begin preparations from Saturday for two upcoming international fixtures, with 26 players joining camp at the Hotel InterContinental in Dhaka.
The national team received a boost with the addition of midfielder Shamit Shome, who joins star player Hamza Choudhury in the middle of the park.
Bangladesh’s domestic competitions are not producing forwards who steal the spotlight in big matches. Goals in lopsided fixtures, played in front of empty stands, do little to prepare players for the intensity of international football.
Jamal Bhuiyan, the most-capped player in Bangladesh’s history, is slowly becoming a peripheral figure in the team despite being the captain. To know his views on this issue and his overall plans in football, The Daily Star's Anisur Rahman and Atique Anam caught up with the Denmark-born midfielder. Following are the excerpts of the interview.
Bangladesh coach Javier Cabrera has expressed his optimism about getting Leicester City’s Hamza Choudhury in the Bangladesh camp soon, after the midfielder received his Bangladesh passport on Friday and sent a letter to the Bangladesh Football Federation expressing his desire to represent the Red and Greens.
Bangladesh coach Javier Cabrera has found one positive in the team's 4-0 defeat against Lebanon in Qatar on Tuesday in what was the last World Cup Qualifier fixture for the Men in Red and Green.
Bangladesh stood their ground against Australia in their second leg match of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, but couldn’t avoid a 2-0 defeat against the superior opponents on a ‘heavy’ field at the Bashundhara Kings Arena in Dhaka on Thursday.
The Australia coach did not hesitate to criticise the playing surface offered at Kings Arena.
Bangladesh are eager to give visiting Australia a tough time when they square off in a Group I fixture of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in Dhaka today.
Cabrera had previously referred to Salahuddin's comment as his personal opinion.
The BFF boss watched from the VIP Box of the Bashundhara Kings Arena on Tuesday as Bangladesh conceded a stoppage time goal in a 1-0 home loss against the Middle Eastern nation, five days after being thrashed 5-0 by the same side in Kuwait.
Bangladesh nearly pulled off a highly improbable feat of escaping with a point to maintain their unbeaten run at the Bashundhara Kings Arena in Dhaka yesterday but ended up succumbing to a 1-0 defeat against Palestine in a Group I fixture of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.
After being outplayed by Palestine in the away match of the World Cup Qualifiers, Bangladesh are seeking motivation for Tuesday’s home match against the same opposition on home ground and in front of home crowd.
Bangladesh coach Javier Cabrera was disappointed with the way his charges dropped their guard suddenly in a 5-0 thrashing by Palestine in a World Cup Qualifier in Kuwait on Thursday night, despite fighting toe to toe with the Middle East nation for a large portion of the game.
