Having already secured semi-final berths in the fifth SAFF Women’s Championship, Nepal and Bangladesh clash in their last Group ‘B’ match on Saturday.

But for both the teams the match carries a huge significance considering that finishing second in the group could most likely mean a showdown with the four-time champions India in the semi-finals. The team that finishes top of the group will take on the runners-up of the other group and visa versa. India, who defeated Maldives 6-0 in their first match, are expected to top Group ‘A’. India are scheduled to play against comparatively a weaker team Sri Lanka on Saturday.

While Nepal defeated Bhutan 3-0 in the inaugural match on Tuesday, Bangladesh recorded a 2-0 victory over Bhutan on Thursday. Both the teams are tied on three points apiece but Nepal occupy top spot on goal difference. A draw against Bangladesh will also be sufficient for Nepal to secure top place in the pool.

“We have fine tuned our preparations for Bangladesh match and hopefully come out as winners,” said Nepal coach Hari Khadka. Nepal have defeated Bangladesh four times and drawn once. The latest encounter between the two teams was during the Asian Qualifier for 2020 Olympics in November last year in Myanmar which ended in a 1-1 draw. “We will adopt offensive game and try to maintain clean sheet going into the semi-finals,” said Khadka.

Khadka believed that his team draw against Bangladesh in Myanmar was the result of his strategic error. “After taking an early lead, we were assured of a place in the next round and we chose to play defensively which resulted us in conceding the stoppage time equaliser,” said Khadka adding that they would have run away with victory had they played their natural game.  

Khadka said he is very much aware of the opponents’ strength and weaknesses. “We watched the Bangladesh vs Bhutan match on Thursday and have devised a certain strategy to tackle them,” said the former men’s national team captain. “We have to be wary of Bangladesh playmakers Monika Chakma and Maria Manda. We also have to find ways to neutralise the pace of their captain (Sabina Khatun),” added Khadka who believes his team has the best forward line in Sabitri Bhandari and Niru Thapa. “If our forwards have their say, it would be difficult for us to beat Bangladesh.”

Khadka sees his team as a balanced one with strong defensively as well. In-form Bhandari is the highest goal-scorer of current team with 25 goals under her belt. She is third in the list of highest scorer for Nepal behind Anu Lama (35) and Jamuna Gurung (25). Skipper Thapa is fourth with nine goals to her credit. Nepal captain Thapa has no doubt whatsoever in defeating Bangladesh. “We are good in all departments and are far better team than Bangladesh,” said 29-year-old hoping to improve on their performance from the Bhutan match.

Bangladesh coach Golam Robbani Choton was also gunning for victory. “The draw against Nepal in last encounter in Myanmar will obviously motivate our team,” he said adding that the only difference between the two sides was the gulf in experience. “Nepal are no doubt one of the strongest teams filled with experienced players. Our players are young and lack experience but they compliment their inexperience with technically skilful performance,” said Choton who fielded five U-16 players and as many U-19 players against Bhutan. The U-16 team of Bangladesh had made it to the finals of AFC U-16 Championship two weeks earlier in Myanmar defeating Philippines 10-0 and hosts Myanmar 1-0.

Choton was wary of the threat posed by striker Bhandari and captain Thapa along with wingers Manjali Kumari Yonjan and Anita Basnet. “We have to stop Bhandari and Thapa to have any chances in the game,” said the Bangladeshi who has been at the held of the Bangladeshi team since 2009.  

Bangladesh skipper Sabina Khatun, also the record goal-scorer for Bangladesh with 19 in her name, also rates Nepal as a strong opponent. “We will try our best take all three points against the hosts,” said the 24-year-old who has been the member of the Bangladeshi squad since the first SAFF in 2010.

Head-to-Head

Nepal 1-0 Bangladesh (2010 SAG)

Nepal 3-0 Bangladesh (2010 SAFF)

Nepal 1-0 Bangladesh (2014 SAFF)

Nepal 3-0 Bangladesh (2016 SAG)

Nepal 1-1 Bangladesh (2018 Olympics Qualifier)