‘Playing catch-up’, booters brace for big debut

Bangladesh have been thrown into a challenging debut at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, with substandard preparation leaving coach Peter Butler warning against suffering a “cricket-score” margin against powerhouses China and North Korea.

The women in red and green, who were scheduled to leave for Sydney in the wee hours today, have a golden opportunity to secure direct qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup with a top-six finish among the 12 participants, split into three groups, while seventh or eighth place would earn a play-off berth. A top-eight finish would also advance them to the 2028 Summer Olympics qualifiers.

“Anyone who thinks we are currently qualifying for World Cups needs to wake up and smell the roses,” Butler said at a crowded press conference yesterday at BFF House, where he announced a 26-member squad -- featuring new faces Alpi Akter, Surovi Akter Afrin, and Sweden-based Anika Rania Siddiqui.

“While I don’t mind answering questions, the truth is that we haven't had the best preparation,” added the former Liberia and Botswana coach.

After qualifying for Asia's top-flight competition in July last year, Bangladesh Football Federation had planned six international matches and an overseas camp, but the buoyant booters ended up playing only four matches -- against Thailand, Malaysia and Azerbaijan -- relying on intensive training at KEPZ in Chattogram instead. The players also got a maximum 10-match experience in the month-long Women’s Football League.

“I am not pointing fingers, but we came in with a plan that has not worked, and we are now playing catch-up… Sometimes reality smacks you in the face. The fact of the matter is that we didn’t properly anticipate or invest in the necessary fixtures and camps,” Butler reiterated.

Bangladesh now gear up for six days of training, including a practice match against Australian side Western Sydney Wanderers on February 26 before the Asian Cup proper.

The Bangladesh coach warned that even the group’s least stronger opposition Uzbekistan, who have previously played the Asian Cup five times, are “technically and physically far superior.

“Let’s take it one step at a time rather than having visions of grandeur."

BANGLADESH SQUAD

Rupna Chakma, Mile Akter, Swarna Rani Mandal, Afeida Khandokar, Kohati Kisku, Nabiran Khatun, Sheuli Azim, Shamsunnar Sr, Halima Khatun, Surovi Akter Afrin, Sapna Rani, Munki Akter, Airin Khatun, Shaheda Akter Ripa, Umehla Marma, Ritu Porna Chakma, Monika Chakma, Maria Manda, Anika Rania Siddiique, Unnoti Khatun, Alpi Akter, Saurvai Akanda Prity, Most Sultana, Tohura Khatun, Most Sagorika, Shamsunnahar Jr