Defending champions Bangladesh secured a place in the final of the 2024 SAFF Women's Championship with a commanding 7-1 victory over Bhutan in the first semifinal at Dashrath Rangasala Stadium in Nepal’s Kathmandu on Sunday. Forward Tohura Khatun stole the show with a spectacular hat-trick, leading her team to victory and keeping their unbeaten record intact in this year's tournament. Bangladesh, who also defeated Bhutan 8-0 in the last SAFF Women’s Championship in 2022, once again proved their dominance. The team now advances to the final on October 30, where they will face either five-time champions India or host Nepal, who compete in the second semifinal later today at the same venue. Bangladesh to play Bhutan, Nepal face India in SAFF semis Sunday In a game that saw Bangladesh dominate from start to finish, Tohura Khatun opened her scoring spree early and found the net three times. Captain Sabina Khatun also shone, adding two goals, while Ritu Porna Chakma and Masura Parvin contributed one goal each, giving Bangladesh a 5-1 lead by halftime. Ritu Porna Chakma opened the scoring for Bangladesh in the 7th minute with a skillful shot from outside the box, making it 1-0. Just eight minutes later, Tohura doubled the lead with a powerful long-distance strike (2-0). Captain Sabina Khatun extended the advantage in the 26th minute, tapping in a pass from Monika Chakma to make it 3-0. Tohura continued her stunning performance with a second goal in the 35th minute, maneuvering past a Bhutanese defender before unleashing a shot from the edge of the box (4-0). Sabina followed up with her second goal just two minutes later, placing the ball past the Bhutanese goalkeeper with ease (5-0). Bhutan managed a consolation goal in the 42nd minute, with forward Daki Lhazom scoring to make it 5-1 as the teams went into halftime. Tohura completed her hat-trick in the 58th minute, skillfully placing a shot from inside the box to bring the score to 6-1. With this performance, Tohura emerged as the tournament's third-highest scorer, with five goals, and was named Player of the Match. She dedicated her trophy to her former coach, Golam Rabbani Choton, saying, “This win and the hat-trick are both for him.” Defender Masura Parvin sealed the emphatic victory in the 72nd minute with a well-placed header from a corner kick, bringing the final score to 7-1. Bangladesh’s path to the final has been marked by impressive performances, including a 3-1 victory over five-time champions India in the group stage and a dramatic 1-1 draw with Pakistan, secured by Shamsunnahar Jr.’s last-minute equalizer. Bhutan’s semifinal journey included a dominant 13-0 win over the Maldives and a 4-1 victory against Sri Lanka, following a scoreless draw with Nepal in group play.    

Bangladesh National Women’s Football team, now in Kathmandu to compete in the SAFF Women's Championship 2024, made their first training session at ANFA ground from 8 am to 9:30 am on Wednesday. The seven- nation women's regional soccer meet will be held at the Dashrath Rangasala (Stadium) in Nepalese capital Kathmandu from October 17-30 with two arch-rival India and Pakistan playing each other in the inaugural match on Thursday (Oct 17) In the day's training session, holders Bangladesh Women's team worked on tactical drills and fine-tuned their strategies in the day's practice session to defend their regional soccer crown. Int’l Women’s Football: Bangladesh makes flying start in two-match series outplaying hosts Bhutan 5-1 Later, Bangladesh and six other participating teams addressed the official press conference at the Imperial Crown Hotel and also took part in the official photo session in the afternoon. In the day's press conference, head coaches and captains of all the seven teams expressed their eagerness to showcase their talent in upcoming prestigious tournament. Head coach of Bangladesh team Peter Butler and captain Sabina Khatun addressed the  day's press conference. Bangladesh, which was placed in three-team Group A of the seven -nation meet India and Pakistan while four-team Group B consists of Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bhutan and the hosts Nepal. Bangladesh, the champions of 2022, will start their campaign taking on Pakistan on October 20 at 5:45 pm while they will face five times champions India on October 23 at the same time and same venue.

Bangladesh will play Pakistan in the second semifinal of the six-nation South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) U-16 Championship in Bhutan on Friday. The match between Group B champions Pakistan and Group A runners-up Bangladesh will kick off at 7 pm (Bangladesh time) at the Changlimithang Stadium in the Bhutanese capital Thimphu. Read : SAFF  U-16 Champs: Bangladesh reach semifinal as India beat Nepal 1-0  Group A champions India will also play the first semifinal on Friday against the Group B runners-up Maldives, which booked a seat for the last four stages after eliminating hosts Bhutan 3-2 in the last group match on Wednesday. Earlier, India emerged Group A champions to reach the semifinal with an all-win record, securing six points from two straight matches, beating both Nepal and Bangladesh by a 1-0 equal goal margin. Bangladesh finished as Group A runners-up to qualify for the semifinal, collecting three points from two matches and beating Nepal by 1-0 goal after conceding 0-1 goal defeat against India. Read : AFC Cup Football: Mohun Bagan advance to group stage eliminating Dhaka Abahani Pakistan emerged Group B champions also with all- win record securing full six points from two group encounters after beating Bhutan by 2-1 goals and the Maldives by 3-0 goals. The Maldives managed a semifinal berth as group B runners, eliminating hosts Bhutan by a 3-2 goal in the last group match Wednesday evening. Ahead of Friday's semifinal, the Bangladesh team is due to make their final practices Thursday evening at the match venue. Read : Bangladesh football team captain Jamal Bhuyan signs for Argentine Club Earlier, Bangladesh was placed in the three-team stronger Group A with India and Nepal while Group B teams comprise the Maldives, Pakistan, and hosts Bhutan. The final match will be held on Sunday at the same venue.

Captain of the new SAFF Women’s champions, Bangladesh’s Sabina Khatun, wants to keep entertaining the football-crazy fans of Bangladesh and also win more trophies in the future. She was speaking at BFF’s official press conference to welcome back the triumphant Bangladesh team from the SAFF Women’s Championship 2022 in Nepal. By the time Sabina got the mic, night had fallen. She had just come off the euphoric high of an open-top bus parade through the city, for the country to welcome back its heroines in a befitting manner.  The scene at the BFF premises was chaotic, and the captain, as well as the highest goalscorer, and not to mention the best player of the tournament award winner, must have been tired, finally. In World Cup terms - she won the Golden Boot, the Golden Ball, and lifted the trophy.  State Minister for Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russell MP, BFF and SAFF President Kazi Salahuddin, BFF Senior vice president Abdus Salam Murshedy MP, Chairman of the BFF Women's Football Committee Mahfuza Akhter Kiron, Head coach of Women's football team Golam Rabbani Chotan, among others, also addressed the press conference.  Sabina expressed her gratitude to the 160 million people of Bangladesh for giving them such a historic reception and providing all-out support. "We are staying at the BFF camp together for the last four to five years, BFF President Kazi Salauddin told us to work hard to achieve success. We did that with the support of BFF and other authorities concerned, and at the end of the day we got the desired result," Sabina added. Head Coach Golam Rabbani Choton said "Our turning point was the start of the countrywide talent hunt program, then came long-term training camp in 2016. From there we were then optimistic of reaping the fruit when the girls would turn to 19-20 years old."   "It wouldn’t have been possible for us to be the champions without the continuous support of BFF, the hard work of the players,” he acknowledged. But he was keener to point out: “Our team won its first SAFF Women's trophy playing dominating football all throughout." He is absolutely right of course. It’s a fact that has somewhat faded behind the euphoria of the first championship - it is how brilliantly the girls played. Most people would have seen only the final - where it was clear that from the very first minute, Bangladesh were looking to attack, and did - winning a corner.  Once they went ahead, they didn’t even sit back - they kept looking for a second. Except for maybe a cagey 20-minute period in the second half that ended with Nepal pulling one back, Bangladesh were clearly the better side. The fact that it was being played in Kathmandu,  seemed to be lost on our Tigresses.  All three goals were beautifully executed combining technical skill and footballing vision. Actually, this has been nurtured in this generation of footballers by their participation in the steady progress made through the age groups in South Asia since the middle of the last decade - Choton is right.  He has bred a generation of women footballers who press like demons, a team that moves forward working in neat triangles throughout the pitch, and with emphasis on technique from the first touch. The girls grew up idealising ‘tiki-taka’.  Let’s not forget, their goal record from the tournament was an incredible 23 scored to 1 against. BFF President Kazi Salahuddin, who received the team at the BFF office Wednesday evening, gave all credit to the players and team management for their success. “After winning the SAFF trophy, our next target is to play in the Asean and Asian level with teams like Thailand, Korea and Japan,” he said.  Earlier, the Bangladesh team was accorded a grand reception on arrival at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka from Kathmandu Wednesday afternoon. The Tigresses earned the dream title for the first time beating five-times runners-up and hosts Nepal 3-1 in the final in Kathmandu Monday evening. Bangladesh broke the complete domination of India through previous editions of the tournament - winning all five. Before the final, we knew the 6th edition would produce the first champion outside India, the regional giant.  And it turned out to be Bangladesh, and deservingly so. Everybody has been dazzled by their play in this tournament. It even won the Fair Play Award - as if any more proof were needed of their clean, beautiful brand of football.  India had been confronted earlier - and ruthlessly disposed of, 3-0, in the group phase. That game itself seemed to symbolise the end of an era. And the Bangladeshi girls did it themselves, shattering the confidence of their potentially most formidable rival, who came second in the group and were eliminated in the semifinal. Also read: SAFF Women's Champs: Bangladesh captain Sabina Khatun wins highest scorer, best player awards

Rangpur's daughter Sirat Jahan Shopna, member of the Bangladesh women's football team, has made its residents proud with her role in the team clinching the title in the seven-nation SAFF Women's Championship. Those who once mocked Shopna for her dream to become a footballer are now overjoyed with her success.  In fact, the whole district is now overwhelmed for Shopna from Palichora village of Sadyapuskarini Union, over historical triumph against Nepal in the tournament's final. In this tournament, Bangladesh beat India 3-0 with Shopna scoring a pair of goals. She scored one goal against Pakistan. In the final, Shopna was withdrawn due to injury soon after the kick-off. In all, she scored four goals in this tournament. Shopna’s mother Lipi Begum used to get angry with her for her interest in football. Later, she surrendered to the girl's indomitable will and encouraged her daughter to fulfil her dream. Lipi said Shopna grew interest in playing football when she was in class four. “My brother Abdul Latif took Shopna to groom her to be a footballer and since then she is moving towards her dream.” Shopna's father Moksar Ali, a farmer, is also overwhelmed with his daughter's success. He said, “I feel very happy. The Bangladesh women's football team won today and my daughter played in it.” He also sought the people’s prayers so that she can do something better for the country. Fans and journalists are thronging Shopna’s home to congratulate her parents. Milon Khan, the coach of the newly formed Youth Sporting Club of the union, said this village is a village of women footballers. “This is the first time that one of our daughter Shopna earned fame by winning the SAFF Championship. We have plans to give her a grand reception,” he added. Bangladesh national women's team reached Dhaka around 1:50 pm today. After completion of the airport formalities, the heroes of Bangladesh boarded a newly shaped and well-decorated open deck BRTC bus at about 3:30 pm for the BFF office in Motijheel from the airport. Along the way, they were greeted by thousands of jubilant fans. On Monday, Bangladesh defeated Nepal 3-1 in the final match, with Shamsunnahar scoring the game's first goal in the 13th minute. Krishna Rani Sarkar scored the final two goals for Bangladesh in the 42nd and 77th minutes, ensuring the nation's first SAFF Women's Championship title. Also read: Kalsindur ready to welcome its poster girls – 8 SAFF champs  

Kalsindur village in Dubaora upazila on the India-Bangladesh border in Mymensingh is all set to welcome its symbols of pride – eight members of the women's football team who have brought the SAFF glory to the country. The "golden girls" of the village – Sanjida, Maria Manda, Sheuli Azim, Marzia Akhter, Shamsunnahar, Tahura, Sajeda, and Shamshunnahar Jr – represented the Bangladesh team that clinched the South Asian women's football crown for the first time Monday, breaking India's 12-year monopoly. Thanks to them, the name Kalsindur has spread across the country and abroad. The once neglected village on the border of the Garo Hills is now electrified and its roads are paved due to the fame of the girls. The stories of these girls have also made it to the textbooks of Class XI of the higher secondary level. There is a special lesson in the textbook "The Unbeaten Girls." Biographies of Sanjida, Maria, Tahura, Shamsunnahar, Sheuli, Najma Akhtar, and Marzia are recorded here. Ans the villagers, who once could not think of letting girls play football, is now ready to welcome their heroes back with smiles, cheers and flowers. Kalsindur School and College Assistant Professor Nazmul Haque said a joint meeting of local administration, public representatives and Kalsindur School and College authorities will be held Thursday at noon to welcome the women footballers. Bangladesh thrashed hosts Nepal 3-1 to win the SAFF Women's Championship title at Kathmandu's Dasharath Rangasala Stadium. During the historic final, Bangladesh got off to a great start when Kalsindur's Shamsunnahar Jr put her team in the lead in the 13th minute. The unbeaten team arrived at Dhaka Airport around 2pm Wednesday. Also read: Naniarchar ready to embrace its daughters Rupna, Ritu Porna after brilliance in SAFF Women's tournament

When the flight from Kathmandu landed in Dhaka, Bangladesh football team captain Sabina Khatun, who was on board, had no idea what was waiting for her and her team outside the airport.  Sabina knew her team had the capabilities to lift the title and win the crown of football excellence in South Asia. Still, she had no idea what the capital city had planned for her. When they completed immigration process and came out to the media corner, Sabina came to know there were hundreds of media personnel waiting with cameras to snap their photos, and there were thousands of fans waiting with flowers to greet them for their victorious journey that ended with the ultimate prize. Read: “Our SAFF achievement is understandable if you look at our journey” Along with fans, band parties were also waiting for them with the cadence of patriotic songs. They were ready with flutes, drums and other musical instruments on the trucks decorated with photos of Sabina and her team.  A press conference was scheduled at the airport. But that failed to materialise due to the overcrowded presence of media personnel. The airport authority failed to manage the crowd. There were hundreds of police personnel to handle the situation, but they failed. There were hundreds of Ansar members too. They too failed to contain the passionate fans. Being unable to host the press conference there, the authority was forced to call it off. It took them around an hour to disperse the crowd and restore order. Read: SAFF Champion Tigresses return home

Bangladesh national women's football team, which emerged as winner in the seven-nation SAFF Women’s Football Championship with all-win record, was accorded a fitting reception as they returned home from Nepal this afternoon. Bangladesh clinched the first-ever SAFF Women's crown in their 2nd attempt after 2006, beating four times runners up and hosts Nepal by 3-1 in the final at Dashrath Stadium (Rangasala) in Kathmandu Monday evening. State Minister for Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russel received the team at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at about 1:50 pm. Read: “Our SAFF achievement is understandable if you look at our journey” The players and officials were welcomed at the airport with garlands and then they cut a cake. Thousands of football-crazy fans thronged Dhaka airport to welcome the women footballers for their glorious achievement. Bangladesh captain Sabina Khatun, midfielder Sanjida Akter spoke to the press in a short briefing at the airport.

The entire nation was anticipating the arrival of its national heroes after they won the SAFF Women's Championship on Monday evening. An open-top bus was prepared to greet them. The tigresses finally touched down at Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 1:50 pm today. The SAFF Championship-winning women footballers were greeted with flowers by Zahid Hasan Russell, State Minister for Youth and Sports, and other dignitaries. The scheduled program underwent some adjustments. The press conference was called off due to a huge crowd and chaos. However, Sabina Khatun, captain of the Bangladesh women's football team, talked to the media when they exited Dhaka airport’s VIP lounge. Sabina praised Bangladesh Football Federation for supporting them and expressed gratitude for how the entire nation backed women's football. Read: SAFF Champion Tigresses return home "Thank you very much, everyone. We are very grateful for being received so warmly. I am very grateful to the state minister and all the officials of the Football Federation. We are ecstatic that you love football so much. Thank you all. Please pray for us. And this trophy belongs to the 16 crore …18 crore people of Bangladesh.” When asked, "What is your next target?”, Sabina said, “Since we made this achievement in South Asia, now we will have to figure out how to move forward.”

Residents of Naniarchar upazila in Rangamati are overwhelmed with joy as two girls from the sub-district were crucial parts of the Bangladesh women's football team — the current seven-nation SAFF Women's champions. The best goalkeeper of the tournament Rupna Chakma, who demonstrated her brilliance under the bar, and defender Ritu Porna Chakma are now the pride of Naniarchar. Rupna and Ritu Porna’s families and neighbours are eagerly waiting to receive them with love for their historic triumph in the tournament. Fans and journalists are thronging their homes to congratulate the families. Following their success, Rangamati Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mohammad Mizanur Rahman visited Rupana and Ritu Porna’s houses this noon with sweets, fruits and flowers. Read: SAFF Women's Champs: Girls bring glory to Bangladesh The DC also handed over a check of Tk 1.50 lakh each to their families as financial assistance. DC Mizanur said Rupna and Ritu Porna have made Bangladesh proud through their extraordinary skills in the SAFF tournament and specifically the final. He called for regular practice of sports in every locality, to uphold the reputation of the players of hill tracts. During his visit at Rupna’s dilapidated home, the DC also instructed Naniarchar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), Bajlur Rahman, to do everything necessary for building a new house for her and improve the road leading to her house.