Bangladesh were denied a crucial international friendly victory on 13 November at the National Stadium in Dhaka when Nepal struck a stoppage-time equaliser, forcing a frustrating 2-2 draw. The result, coming just days before a vital Asian Cup qualifier against India, has exposed the national side’s over-reliance on the sublime talents of Premier League star Hamza Choudhury, who single-handedly provided both goals.
Hamza’s performance underlined why he has become the focal point of Bangladesh’s team. The Leicester City midfielder, who chose to represent Bangladesh out of patriotism, continued his fine run of form: since his debut on 25 March 2025 he has become a regular match-winner and creator for the national side. In this match he produced the moments of genuine quality that kept Bangladesh in front for large periods, only for the visitors to snatch a dramatic leveller.
Choudhury, who has now netted four goals and registered one assist in just six appearances for the national side, has taken on a punishing Box-to-Box mandate for the Red & Green. This is a significant scoring rate for a player classified primarily as a Defensive Midfielder, whose entire club career has yielded four goals and eight assists.
His high-energy contribution is driven by simple patriotism. Speaking ahead of the match, Choudhury stated: “I don’t think about money separately. My love for the country and my desire to help improve its situation are what matter most. I feel lucky that I can make an entire nation proud.”
Hamza operates chiefly as a defensive midfielder but performs a wide range of roles for Bangladesh. He drops between the centre-backs to start build-ups, presses the opposition defence at crucial moments, provides through balls, and times late runs into the box to add a goal threat. At club level he has also played at right back and in other midfield roles, which underlines his versatility.
That all-action profile makes Hamza indispensable, but it also places heavy physical and mental demands on him. Ex-captain Mamunul Islam, speaking in a coaching and analyst capacity, warned that leaning too heavily on one player carries risk. “Bangladesh football right now relies heavily on Hamza,” he said. “From fans and sponsors to performance, we depend on him. He must attack and defend. If a player who plays in Europe returns to a hot climate and delivers this work rate, it is risky. We know Hamza can do it all, but we need to develop other players who can contribute at the same rhythm. We must decide on a clearer role for Hamza and build a support structure around him.”
The friendly formed part of Bangladesh’s final preparations for the crucial qualifier against India on 18 November. While Hamza’s performance offered cause for optimism, the result exposed broader issues. Relying on a single standout performer can mask underlying weaknesses in squad depth and balance. As Mamunul noted, the team must find additional players who can share the workload and provide consistent support both in defence and attack.The friendly formed part of Bangladesh’s final preparations for the crucial qualifier against India on 18 November. While Hamza’s performance offered cause for optimism, the result exposed broader issues. Relying on a single standout performer can mask underlying weaknesses in squad depth and balance. As Mamunul noted, the team must find additional players who can share the workload and provide consistent support both in defence and attack.
| Goal No. | Date | Description | Opponent |
| 1 | 4 June 2025 | Powerful header | Bhutan |
| 2 | 9 October 2025 | Bullet-like right-footed free-kick | Hong Kong |
| 3 & 4 | 13 November 2025 | Overhead kick and Panenka penalty | Nepal |
Contrasting stats:
| Team | Matches | Goals | Assists | Goals per Match |
| Bangladesh | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0.67 |
| Club | 225 | 3 | 5 | 0.013 |
