Bangladesh’s preparation for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup qualifiers has taken an unexpected turn as Afghanistan have withdrawn from their scheduled friendly in Dhaka on 13 November. The decision comes after Myanmar refused to travel to Bangladesh for their own AFC Asian Cup qualifier, prompting Afghanistan to cancel their visit.

Bangladesh will still take the field on the date, as the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) moved swiftly to secure Nepal as a replacement opponent. The confirmation came from BFF executive committee member and competition committee chairman Golam Ghaus.

“They (Afghanistan) informed us that they won’t be coming since Myanmar refused to travel here,” Ghaus told the media. “However, Nepal have agreed to play, and the fixture has now been finalized.”

The match will serve as a continuation of the two sides’ recent engagements. Bangladesh and Nepal played out a goalless draw in the first match of their planned two-game friendly series in Kathmandu on 6 September, though the return leg on 9 September was postponed due to political unrest in Nepal.

Bangladesh will then shift focus to their next AFC Asian Cup Qualifier match on 18 November, when they host India in Dhaka. The two teams previously battled to a goalless draw in Shillong on 25 March — a match that marked Hamza Chowdhury’s long-awaited debut for Bangladesh.

Cabrera’s men currently sit on two points from four matches, having recorded two draws and two defeats, while Hong Kong lead the standings with eight points. Though Bangladesh are no longer in contention for qualification, the final game offers the chance to finish the campaign with renewed confidence.

Upcoming Fixtures

13 November: Bangladesh vs Nepal (International Friendly), Dhaka

18 November: Bangladesh vs India (AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers), Dhaka