Bangladesh head coach Javier Cabrera has expressed strong confidence ahead of Thursday’s AFC Asian Cup Qualifier against Hong Kong, China, at the Dhaka National Stadium, calling it a “vital match” for his side’s hopes of staying in contention.
The team has been training intensively for over ten days, with Cabrera describing the preparation as “very good” and the players “absolutely ready” for the challenge ahead. A full house is expected in Dhaka as Bangladesh look to bounce back after their opening defeat to Singapore.
“This is a very important game for all of us,” Cabrera said. “We know what we are capable of. The team is motivated, confident, and ready to perform in front of our home supporters.”
Cabrera believes the four teams in the group, including Hong Kong, China, are of a similar level. He downplayed the significance of naturalised players in Hong Kong’s squad, insisting that Bangladesh’s focus remains on the collective challenge. “It doesn’t matter who they are. We are preparing to face the Hong Kong national team as a unit,” he added.
Reflecting on the loss to Singapore, Cabrera admitted there were lessons to be learned but remained optimistic. “We had good moments in that match, but also made mistakes we cannot repeat. If we stay focused, we can control the match better tomorrow.”
The Spanish coach acknowledged the significance of the upcoming fixtures, with Bangladesh set to play Hong Kong away and India at home within the next month. “It’s a challenging period, but we can make history if we play to our level,” he said. “This group of players has quality, and with the latest additions, we feel stronger.”
Cabrera also provided updates on key players. Defender Topu Barman is recovering from injury, with the final decision on his availability to be made after the last training session. Meanwhile, midfielder Shamit Shome, who arrived on Tuesday night, trained lightly and will be assessed before the match.
Young left-back Zayyan Ahmed, who impressed in the U-23 side, has also caught Cabrera’s attention. “He’s shown great dedication and wants to prove he can play at this level,” the coach noted.
Cabrera emphasised that winning tomorrow would be a statement from the team rather than from him personally. “It’s about the players. A win would strengthen our belief in what we are building,” he said.
With captain Jamal Bhuyan labelling the fixture as a “do or die” match, Cabrera echoed the sentiment but stressed that the team’s mindset remains positive. “A good result is vital. We’ll keep fighting whatever happens, but the ambition is clear – to take all three points.”
Bangladesh will aim to deliver their best performance yet under Cabrera when they take to the pitch on Thursday night, knowing that a win could reignite their qualification hopes and inspire belief across the nation.
