Bangladesh will have a new captain as they prepare to defend their title at the upcoming SAFF Women’s Championship. Midfielder Maria Manda will lead the team in the tournament, which starts in Goa on May 25. She replaces Afieda Khandaker as captain.
Head coach Peter Butler made the decision as part of a change in the team’s setup ahead of the competition. Afieda attended the pre tournament press conference in Dhaka as captain, but signs of a leadership change had already appeared earlier this year.
During the AFC Under 20 Asian Cup in Thailand in March, Afieda lost the captain’s role during the tournament after a drop in form. The change became clearer during Bangladesh’s recent friendly match in Thailand, where Manda wore the armband.
Afieda became captain in 2023 and had some important moments during her time in charge. She helped Bangladesh win a shared title at the 2024 SAFF Under 19 Championship and also played a part in the team’s qualification for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
Now the Bangladesh Football Federation has handed the responsibility to Manda. The federation believes her experience and leadership can guide the team during the title defence.
Bangladesh will begin their campaign for a third straight SAFF Women’s Championship title against Maldives on May 28. The defending champions will enter the tournament as favourites and hope to continue their strong run in South Asian women’s football.
