Bangladesh forward Alpi Akter expressed her disappointment after failing to defend the SAFF Women’s U-19 Championship title, despite being named player of the tournament and finishing as the top scorer.
The team returned to Dhaka on Sunday following a 4-0 defeat to India in Saturday’s final in Pokhara. The five-time champions could not retain their crown, handing India their third SAFF U-19 title.
“It is really very painful for us to lose the final,” Alpi told reporters at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. “I did not have any individual target to achieve. My teammates helped me win a couple of individual prizes, and I am happy with these achievements. But I would have been happier even without my individual awards if we could have won the trophy.”
Alpi’s tournament form had been spectacular. She scored seven goals, including hat-tricks against Bhutan and Nepal, and one goal against India during the round-robin stage. Her hat-trick against Nepal had secured Bangladesh a place in the final, making her Golden Boot triumph almost inevitable.
Despite her individual brilliance, Alpi admitted the team’s finishing in the final let them down. “We started the game well but could not do well in finishing, which we are still not able to understand,” she said. “There is always victory and defeat, and the fact is that we lost the final. We hope to come back stronger in the next edition with good preparation.”
Alpi’s double accolade as top scorer and player of the tournament recalls Bangladesh’s Sagrika in 2024, who achieved the same feat. Her sharp performances are backed by consistent domestic form, having scored 11 goals for Siraj Smriti Sansad in the last women’s league and 25 goals in eight matches for Rajshahi Stars, including three hat-tricks.
On the podium, Mahfuza Akter, Chairperson of the Women’s Wing of BFF, presented Alpi with the player of the tournament award. SAFF President Kazi Salauddin also congratulated her for her performances.
