The 14th edition of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Men’s Championship was held at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore, India, on June 21 to July 4, in 2023
The women's SAFF football championship will be held in October this year. The venue is yet to be finalized; probably Bangladesh will host the tournament.
Bangladesh women are the defending champions in the women's tournament. The Red and Green clinched the title for the first time in the tournament, beating hosts Nepal by 3-1 goals in the final at Dasharath Rangasala Stadium, Kathmandu, on September 19, 2022. Skipper Sabina and CO have a target to become champions for the second time in a row.
The women's football team had a great experience taking part in the Asian Games in 2023. Sabina Khatun and Co. played three outings in Hangzhou, China. The first time the women's football team took part in Asia's biggest competition was history.
Bangladesh women lost to mighty Japan and Vietnam by 0-8 and 1-6 goals. Sabina Khatun had a chance to win over Nepal in the games. But with the failure of forwards, they drew 1-1 with Nepal at last.
It was a big experience to play against Japan and Vietnam. The skipper said, “We achieved good experience in 2023. It can be said that at the end of the year, the team gets some good results. We played two outings against Singapore and won by 3-0 and 8-0.”
The captain now looks to the SAFF championship. Bangladesh clinched the SAFF Championship under her leadership, and now to keep the trophy in the country under her leadership is a big challenge.
"As for the whole speculation around the SAFF, I am thinking about the tournament. It is highly prestigious for the team and the country. The team will prepare for the SAFF. I also think about the tournament.”
The sixth edition of the Women Football League was in December but was not run on the field. It will be on the ground in February of this year.
The skipper thinks that the women's football league is very important, as are the international friendly matches.
“If we can play more domestic matches that will be better for the team. But most important are friendly matches. We need more friendly matches.
The SAFF Championship is in October, so there is no alternative for the friendly matches,” said Sabina Khatun on a short trip
