Bangladesh target Indonesia win, eye on SAFF

Eliminated from the FIFA ASEAN Cup, Bangladesh football side will look to salvage pride and build confidence for the SAFF Championship when they face hosts Indonesia in their final Group A match on Thursday.

The match kicks off at 6:30pm Bangladesh time, with Tigers already out of contention for a place in the final after Monday’s 1-0 defeat to Singapore.

For Sohel Rana Junior, however, the tournament has already served a valuable purpose for a team returning from a lengthy competitive lay-off.

“We were out of action for about three months with no domestic league. We only had four weeks of training and no international friendlies,” Rana said.

“However, after playing these two matches, the players have improved a lot and our confidence is high.”

Bangladesh will face the group’s strongest side in Indonesia, who have European-based players in their ranks. Rana expects a disciplined approach from the start.

“Indonesia are the strongest team in this group. The coach’s plan is to use a mid-block from the first minute and see how the match unfolds,” he said.

Young forward Minhazul Karim Shadin, who made his senior international debut in the tournament, believes Bangladesh can finish on a positive note.

“We lost, but we played much better and created chances. Football is unpredictable, and we will try our absolute best to get a win before returning home,” Shadin said.

He also dismissed social media rumours of unrest within the camp, insisting the squad remain united and focused.