Bangladesh national football team head coach Javier Cabrera admitted it was difficult to accept the 1-0 defeat to Singapore that ended his side’s campaign in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.
Despite a valiant effort and sustained periods of pressure on the hosts, Bangladesh could not overturn an early goal conceded late in the first half. The loss marked the team’s sixth and final match in the qualifying group, leaving them with one win, two draws, and three defeats, finishing third in Group C with five points.
Cabrera’s squad included England-based Hamza Choudhury, Canada-based Shomit Som, Italy-based Fahamedul Islam, and US-based Zayan Ahmed. The coach had hoped to at least finish the campaign on a high, but the team’s aspirations were left unfulfilled.
“In this group, I don’t think we played worse than any other team. In fact, we performed better than many opponents in every match. But the reality is we finished the group stage with only five points,” Cabrera said. “Regarding today’s game, I’m not saying Singapore doesn’t deserve to play in the Asian Cup, but there’s no doubt we played a higher-quality game than them.”
“Accepting this result is extremely difficult, because this was probably our best performance of the group stage. The team deserved a win, or at least a point. I am very proud of my players, and that is the most important thing. How we lose sometimes matters to me, and today, despite losing, I am incredibly proud of the team. We dominated the match. I congratulate the squad for today’s performance.”
Bangladesh’s key chances went unconverted, while Singapore capitalised on their single opportunity. Late in the second half, a strike hitting the post could have altered the outcome. Cabrera did not hide his frustration with his team’s finishing, but stressed the positives.
“We need to remain positive. Changes are coming. The players’ quality is now evident; we are gaining experience, and professionalism is increasing. The players understand how to control the pace of the game. Teams like Singapore can take their single opportunity, which is an area where we still have room for improvement. If the team improves here, in the next few years you will see Bangladesh climb 20-30 places in the rankings.”
Cabrera’s contract is set to expire this April, and he did not clarify his future, leaving the decision to the federation. “Let’s see what happens, there is still a month left. The important thing is to make the right decisions and give the team a clear vision. Progress is visible. What we lacked under my tenure was perhaps a few more positive results,” he added.
The coach also urged the federation to trust young players. “As you’ve seen in the U-20 SAFF Championship, bringing young talent and making some changes is the way forward. Encouraging and giving players chances will soon allow us to win matches like today’s,” Cabrera concluded.
