Disappointment struck again for Bangladesh as they conceded a last-minute goal to settle for a 2–2 draw against Nepal on 13 November 2025. Just two minutes from claiming victory, the home side were undone by defensive lapses, leaving coach Javier Cabrera facing tough questions at the post-match press conference.
Both goals conceded were attributed to defensive mistakes, a recurring problem that has plagued the team even in previous matches. “I have made them practice this hundreds of times. It can happen in football. It keeps happening, it’s frustrating,” Cabrera admitted. Captain Jamal Bhuyan had also taken responsibility for losing focus in the final minutes. On whether this reflected a mental issue, Cabrera added: “I wouldn’t say it’s a mental problem. We will analyse the video, correct the mistakes, and use the next four days to prepare so it doesn’t happen against India.”
Bangladesh had taken the lead through Hamza Choudhury’s brilliant brace, an acrobatic overhead kick and a calm Panenka penalty before the 80th-minute substitution that saw him leave the field due to a minor injury. Nepal coach Hari Khadka admitted that Hamza’s exit worked to his team’s advantage: “If Hamza had stayed up front for the rest of the match, it would have been very difficult for us. His absence gave us an advantage.” While he praised Hamza’s first goal, Khadka questioned the penalty that gave Bangladesh their second.
Despite dominating possession and preparing at home for over two weeks, Bangladesh could not convert their superiority into a win. Cabrera acknowledged the shortcomings: “Yes, we dominated possession in the first half, but we didn’t create clear chances. I take responsibility; we could have played better, especially in the first half. Playing against a low-block team like Nepal is not easy.”
Minor injuries to Hamza and Zayan Ahmed were managed with ice packs, and Cabrera assured that both players would be fit for Bangladesh’s upcoming Asian Cup qualifier against India. The match underlined recurring defensive issues but also showcased Hamza’s heroics, which ultimately went in vain as Nepal snatched a draw in the final moments.
