Bangladesh head coach Peter James Butler believes his side deserved more from the SAFF Women’s Championship final and said the 3-1 scoreline did not reflect the way his team played against India.
Bangladesh’s hopes of winning a third straight SAFF title ended on Saturday at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa. India claimed the trophy with a 3-1 victory.
The defeat brought an end to Bangladesh’s bid for a hat trick of titles. The team first won the championship in 2022 under Golam Rabbani Choton and successfully defended it in 2024 under Butler.
Bangladesh entered the final after mixed performances in the group stage and semi final. But they looked a different side in the title match. Afida Khandaker, Maria Manda and Rituparna Chakma played with confidence and purpose. After falling behind, Bangladesh fought back through a goal from Rituparna.
Despite creating chances and enjoying long spells of control, Bangladesh could not make the most of their opportunities. India took advantage and secured the win.
“To be honest, I do not think the scoreline reflects the way the game was played. In my opinion, we were the better team for a long period of the match,” Butler said.
“I am really proud of the girls, the way they expressed themselves and the way they fought. But yes, I think the first goal was a bit of an accident. We simply lost our way for a moment.”
The Bangladesh coach felt the timing of India’s goals played a major role in the result. His side conceded late in the first half and then again just after the break.
“The timing of the first goal was also bad, around the 42nd or 43rd minute. Then the second goal came just one minute and four seconds after the break,” he said.
“The girls know that I always work in blocks of 15 to 20 minutes. For the third goal, we were attacking and looking for opportunities. We even had a very good chance. But what happened has happened. Unfortunately, it is disappointing for us.”
“But I am very happy with how the girls played, especially the younger ones.”
Butler reserved special praise for several members of his squad. He highlighted the performances of young players Momita Khatun and Anika Rani Siddique, while also recognising the efforts of senior figures.
“I think Momita was outstanding. Anika was also very, very good. Shamsunnahar and Tahura worked incredibly hard and gave everything. Maria Manda led from the front as captain,” he said.
The English coach urged his players to learn from the setback and move forward.
“I always say this is a continuous learning process. This tournament has had its ups and downs, and not just for us but for others as well,” Butler said.
“I was speaking with the India coach. I think they also know that we did not deserve to lose tonight. Many people will agree that for a long period of the match, we played better than India.”
The disappointment was clear after the final whistle. Several Bangladesh players sat on the pitch in tears while others covered their faces. The pain of missing out on a third consecutive SAFF title remained visible throughout the medal ceremony.
