Sweden-born Anika named in Bangladesh women’s Asian Cup preliminary squad

Bangladesh Football Federation on Wednesday named a 29-member partial preliminary squad for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia, with Sweden-born forward Anika Rania Siddiqui earning a call-up. 

The 20-year-old, who has been in Dhaka for the past week undergoing trials, becomes only the second foreign-based player in the women’s squad after Matsushima Sumaya, who recently starred in Bangladesh’s victorious campaign at the inaugural SAFF Women’s Futsal Championship in Thailand.

The squad has begun a 12-day training camp under fitness trainer Cameron Lord and Abul Hossain, while head coach Peter Butler remains in Nepal with the junior team for the SAFF U-19 Women’s Championship.

Butler selected 23 players from domestic ranks, excluding Mamoni Chakma, Joynob Bibi Rita and Munki Akter, who are with the U-19 squad. Nine additional players have been called up for the preliminary camp, including Tannima Biswas, Ruma Akter, Umma Kulsum, Ferdous Akter Sonali, Airin Khatun, Surma Jannat, Nadia Akter Juti, Unnoti Khatun and, last but not the least, Anika.

Anika, who previously played for IF Brommapojkarna, a top-tier club in Sweden, possesses the ability to operate on either wing with both playmaking and scoring abilities.

The camp will conclude before the Women’s Football League resumes on February 9, while the SAFF U-19 Women’s Championship wraps up on February 7 with the final between the top two teams.