Bangladesh head coach Javier Cabrera has expressed confidence ahead of his side’s final AFC Asian Cup qualifying match, insisting that victory against Singapore remains the clear objective.
Singapore have already secured qualification for the Asian Cup main round after topping Group C, but Bangladesh are aiming to finish their campaign strongly. The two sides will meet at the National Stadium in Singapore on Tuesday in their sixth and final group match.
Bangladesh currently sit third in the table with five points from five matches, while Hong Kong are second with eight points. A win is essential for Bangladesh if they are to overtake Hong Kong and finish as runners-up.
Cabrera’s side come into the match after a 3–0 defeat in a friendly against Vietnam, a result the coach described as disappointing but valuable in terms of experience.
“We are fully prepared. Before coming here, we had a tough test against Vietnam. The result was disappointing, but there were many positives to take. Playing against a higher-ranked team was a great experience, and we will use what we learned in that match against Singapore,” Cabrera said.
Bangladesh will be without experienced players Topu Barman and Rakib Hossain due to suspension concerns, but the coach sees this as an opportunity for others to step up.
There was encouraging news from training, with Fahim Ahmed and Kazem Shah Kirmanee both declared fit and ready for selection.
“You always feel the absence of experienced players who have played many matches for the national team. But this is also a big opportunity for others who have not had such chances before,” Cabrera added.
The Bangladesh coach made his intentions clear heading into the decisive fixture.
“Our main target is to win. If we can perform at our best and reduce small mistakes, especially from set-pieces, we can definitely take all three points,” he said.
