Dhaka – Bangladesh National Football team will fly for Tajikistan Sunday (September 1) to play their first-leg away match for the joint qualification (Round-1) for the FIFA World Cup 2022 and AFC Asian Cup 2023 against Afghanistan on September 10 in Tajik capital Dushanbe.
Bangladeshi booters will also play two preparatory matches against two leading Tajik football clubs — FC Kuktosh on September 3 and CSKA Pamir on September 5 — during the 8-day preparation camp there.
Head Coach of Bangladesh team Jamie Day expressed his confidence to win their away match against their Afghanistan.
“I don’t believe in miracle. It will be a tough match, Afghanistan have the best squad. But, I believe we’ve a good chance to win the match, if we play well,” he said at a pre-tour press conference at BFF house in Motijheel on Friday.
Ahead of the tour, Bangladesh National Football team held a 7-day residential camp in Dhaka on August 24-30. Booters made a hard practice with physical training, ball possession, ball passing and with ball movements.
While asking about their preparation, the English coach replied, “The boys made good training here. I’m confident and looking forward to the game. We’ll have two practice matches in Tajikistan. I think it will enough for us.”
A total of 19 players joined the camp among initially called 26 players on August 24.
players of Dhaka Abahani Ltd. — goalkeeper Shahidul Alam Sohel, defender Tutul Hosain Badsha, midfielders Mamunul Islam Mamun and Sohel Rana, forwards Nabib Newaz Jiban, Saad Uddin and Jewel Rana — were absent in the camp due to their preoccupation in the away match of the AFC Cup Football match against April 25 SC on August 28 in North Korea.
Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) General Secretary Md Abu Nayeem Shohag and Key player of Bangladesh Md Rabiul Hasan were also present on the occasion.
The 20-year-old Bangladeshi midfielder Rabiul Hasan also believed that they can win the match against Afghanistan.
“We got good training and our target is a good result in Tajikistan. I’m confident as our players are doing well,” Rabiul said.
Bangladesh put in Group E along with Qatar, Oman, neighbouring India and Afghanistan.
Bangladesh will play their home match against stronger Qatar on October 10, away match with India on October 15, away match against Oman on November 14 and home match with Afghanistan on March 26, away match with Qatar on March 31 Qatar and home matches with India on June 4 and Oman on June 9.
The 19-players, who joined the training camp on August 24 are: Ashraful Islam Rana, AnisurRahman, Sushanto Tripura, Rahmat Mia, SM Monjurur Rahman, Yeasin Khan, Bishwanath Ghosh, RiyadulHasan, NurulNaium Faisal, Yeasin Arafat, Masuk Miah Zoni, Jamal Bhuiyan, Rabiul Hasan, Biplu Ahamed, Arifur Rahman, Mohammad Ibrahim, Mahbubur Rahman, Matin Miah and Mazharul Islam Himel.UNB
