Bangladesh women's national football team are gearing up for a crucial international window in July. With their sights firmly set on the upcoming SAFF Women's Championship, the team will be locking horns with Bhutan in a two-match friendly series.
The Bangladesh Football Federation's (BFF) women's committee, which convened on Wednesday, confirmed the fixtures. Women booters will take flight to Thimphu, Bhutan's capital, on the 8th of July, ready to face their opponents on the 11th and 14th before returning home on the 15th.
This arrangement comes after the cancellation of a previously planned four-nation tournament in Lebanon. The political situation there proved to be a hurdle, prompting the BFF to seek alternative opponents. Mahfuza Akhter Kiron, the executive member who chaired the meeting, spoke to The Daily Star, explaining, "While a tournament involving Lebanon, Jordan, Nepal, and Bangladesh was on the cards, the circumstances in Lebanon forced a change of plans. We couldn't secure responses from other countries for July, so we opted to utilise this window with the Bhutan matches." While the Bhutan friendlies present a valuable opportunity to hone their skills, Kiron emphasised the bigger picture. "These matches will undoubtedly be a part of the girls' preparation for the SAFF Women's Championship, which runs from October 17th to 30th. However, we're actively pursuing additional friendly matches in the September window to further bolster their readiness."
Earlier this year, the Tigresses faced a challenging home series against Chinese Taipei in May and June, where they fell short with 4-0 and 1-0 defeats. The upcoming Bhutan encounters offer a chance to bounce back and build momentum ahead of the crucial SAFF Championship.
