Bangladesh’s under-23 football team are ready to begin their Asian Cup qualifying journey after months of preparation at home and abroad. The young side will face Vietnam in their opening match on Wednesday, 3 September, a fixture that could set the tone for the rest of the campaign.
Assistant coach Hasan Al Mamun spoke with confidence before the match, pointing to the players’ mindset and hard work. “For the past month we have been training in Dhaka, then we had a camp in Bahrain. Here in Vietnam we have also completed the final touches. The boys are motivated and will go out to achieve a positive result,” he said.
The team, however, will be without one of their key players, Fahamedul. Due to complications with a club transfer, his clearance arrived late and he is unlikely to feature against Vietnam. His absence is a setback, but the coaching staff have placed their trust in the rest of the squad to deliver.
Midfielder Sheikh Morsalin echoed the optimism within the camp. “We have worked very hard over the past month. Now everyone is mentally ready. We will give our best in the first match,” he said.
After Vietnam, Bangladesh will take on Yemen on 6 September and then Singapore on 9 September in what promises to be a challenging group stage. The qualifiers feature 44 teams divided into 11 groups. Each group winner will qualify for the main event alongside the four best runners-up, while hosts Saudi Arabia are already assured of their place.
The Asian Cup will be staged in Saudi Arabia in January next year with the 16 best sides competing for the title. For Bangladesh, this qualifying campaign is more than just another tournament. It is an opportunity to prove themselves on the continental stage.
