Dhaka – A 23-member Bangladesh Under-23 Football team will leave Dhaka for Nepal on way to Palestine to play Group E matches of the AFC Under-23 Championship Qualifiers to be held there from July 19-23.On way to Palestine to play the four-nation tough AFC U-23 Championship, Bangladesh team will play two preparation matches–first one on Tuesday (July 11) against Nepal U-23 team and the other one on Thursday (July 13) against Qatar U-23 team in Qatar.Earlier, Bangladesh team (190 in FIFA ranking), put in strong Group E of the AFC U-23 meet alongwith hosts Palestine (ranked 94), Jordan (ranked 108) and Tajikistan (ranked 149).In a pre tour press briefing at BFF House on Saturday, BFF Vice President and Chairman of the National Team Management Committee Kazi Nabil Ahmed MP said, “It will be a very tough tournament for us, all of our three opponents are stronger and superior than us in FIFA ranking, so it will be a preparatory tournament for us for future competition.Head Coach of Bangladesh Andrew Ord said, “We are not saying that we will play the final round of the AFC U-23 meet, but we want to make a good start, our preparations is still going on, matches against Nepal and Qatar will be the part of it, and I am confident our boys will give their best in the Championship”.During the press conference, a 23-meber Bangladesh squad for the AFC U-23 Championship was announced. But the name of Bangladesh captain will be announced after two preparatory matches.
Bangladesh U-23 team: Sohel Rana, Rubel Miya, Md Tutul Hosain Badsha, Md Saad Uddin, Masuk Miah Zoni, Nurul Naium Faisal, Jafar Iqbal, Md Abdullah, Shushanto Thipura, Mohammad Nayeem, Md Sohel Miah, Mahfuz Hasan Pritom, Md Atikuzzaman, Md Alam Didarul, Md Khalekorzaman (Shoboz), Fazlay Rabbi, Md Toklis Ahmed, S M Monjurur Rahman (Manik), M Asaduzzaman Bablu, M Jewel Rana, Hemonta Vinsent Biswas, Anisur Rahman and Rahamat Mia.Stand by : Sujon Hossain, Mansur Amin, Ibrahim and Zaman Nipu.UNB news agency
