Football
AFC Cup Football: Maziya SRC of Maldives to play Bashundhara Kings on Monday
The Maldives champions Maziya Sports and Recreation Club arrived in Dhaka on Friday to play Bangladesh champions Bashundhara Kings in their Group D away match of the AFC Cup Football.
The vital match between Bangladesh and the Maldives giants will kick off at 6:00 pm Bangladesh time on Monday at the floodlight Bashundhara Kings Arena in the capital.
Ahead of Monday's key match, Maziya SRC and Bashundhara Kings will have their final practice sessions on Sunday afternoon and evening, respectively, after addressing the official press conference in the afternoon.
Two Indian clubs—Kolkata Mohun Bagan Super Giants and Odisha FC—will also play on Monday at 8:00 pm at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.
Bashundhara Kings, which were placed in four-team Group D of the AFC Cup with Odisha FC, Mohun Bagan Club of India, and Maziya SRC of the Maldives, had already played four matches.
Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) champions Bashundhara Kings made a frustrating start in the four-team Group D of the AFC Cup after suffering a 1-3 goal defeat against the Maldives in the group opener in Male, but they bounced back in the race, beating Odisha FC by 3-2 goals in their home match in Dhaka.
The Kings played a 2-2 draw with Indian giant Mohun Bagan Club in their away match held in Odisha last month, and later they made history with their first-ever victory against Kolkata Mohun Bagan Club, beating them by 2-1 goals in the home match in Dhaka this month.
On completion of four group matches, Bashundhara Kings and Kolkata Mohun Bagan Club lead the group table jointly, securing seven points each, while Maziya SRC is at the bottom with three points from four matches.
The Kings will play their next match, an away match with Odisha FC of India, on December 11 at 8:00 pm Bangladesh time at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
Each of the four Group D teams of the AFC Cup 2023–24, a second-tier Asian Continental Club Football Competition after the AFC Champions League, is playing each other in a home-and-away round-robin format.
Later, the table-toppers will progress to the AFC Cup inter-zone play-off semi-finals.
Fight in the stands delay start of Argentina-Brazil World Cup qualifying match
Lionel Messi led his Argentina lineup off the field because of a brawl between rival fans in Brazil, delaying the start of their South American World Cup qualifier by 27 minutes Tuesday at the Maracana Stadium.
Messi's squad returned from the locker room after it was deemed to be safe and went on to win a tense match 1-0, staying on the pitch to celebrate with their fans long after the final whistle.
“There was family of the players (there). We were more worried about that than playing the match,” Messi said after the match. “We did that (going to the locker room) because that was the way to make it all calm. From below, we couldn’t do much, we saw how they (police) hit people.”
Read: Argentina beats Brazil 1-0 in World Cup qualifying after crowd violence delays start
Players of both teams had earlier asked fans for calm, with Argentina goalkeeper Dibu Martinez racing to one of the rails in front of the visiting fans and urging police to stop the violence.
Police used batons to break up the fights in the crowd, which started minutes after the national anthems echoed around the stadium.
Parts of seating and other objects were thrown from both sides and hit some spectators behind one of the goals, and at least one fan left the stadium bleeding from his head.
Argentina returned after 22 minutes in the locker rooms, and warmed up for several minutes before the game was finally started.
Dozens of police surrounded Argentina fans as they cheered during the match, and even more security faced toward them on the pitch. Police gathered around the section that can hold about 3,000 fans.
Col. Vagner Ferreira, the highest-ranking police officer in the stadium, blamed organizers for the lack of a barrier between home and visiting fans. He defended the actions of police.
Read: Messi seeks 1st goal against Brazil in World Cup qualifying, hosts try to avert crisis in Rio
“Every action demands a reaction. There is a history of confrontation here. At first we spoke to them. Then, we had to use our batons. There was no lethal force involved, no rubber bullets, no tear gas. This was a very technical approach,” Ferreira told TV channel SporTV.
All 69,000 tickets for the match in Rio de Janeiro were sold. Brazil fans, who jeered and applauded Messi before the brawl began, chanted against him when he returned to the pitch.
Brazil players remained on the pitch and warmed up while waiting for the Argentina team to return.
Argentina leads South American World Cup qualifying with 15 points from six games. Brazil is in sixth position. Both teams had lost their previous games in the 10-team round-robin competition.
The rivalry between Brazil and Argentina started at the club level and grew after the Argentinians won their first World Cup title in 1978. The Brazilians beat Argentina 3-1 in the second phase of the 1982 World Cup, and the Argentines responded with a 1-0 victory eight years later in the round of 16.
The reginal rivals have since played fierce matches in World Cup qualifying and in Copa America, but not in World Cups.
They were expected to face off in the semifinals last year in Qatar, but Brazil was knocked out by Croatia in the quarterfinals before Argentina went on to win the title for a third time.
Read: FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Bangladesh team make gym, recovery session in Melbourne Sunday
The heated debate over who is the best footballer in history, with most Brazilians going for Pelé and Argentinians split between Messi and Diego Maradona, has also intensified the rivalry.
On Nov. 4, Brazil's Fluminense won the Copa Libertadores final at the Maracana Stadium after a week of street fights between some of its supporters and those of Argentina's Boca Juniors.
Argentina beats Brazil 1-0 in World Cup qualifying after crowd violence delays start
Many fans came to the Maracana Stadium on Tuesday to watch Lionel Messi in his likely last match in Brazil, a superclasico in World Cup qualifying against the hosts. Instead, they saw Nicolás Otamendi score the only goal in a 1-0 win for Argentina after a brawl between fans that delayed the start of the game.
The World Cup champions inflicted the first home defeat on Brazil ever in World Cup qualifying. It was Brazil’s third consecutive loss in the round-robin tournament — another negative mark for new coach Fernando Diniz.
Messi left the pitch in the 78th minute amid a mixture of jeers and applause from Brazil fans. Dozens of children arrived at the Maracana wearing the shirts of Barcelona, the star’s previous club, and Inter Miami.
The Argentine star wasn’t able to end one of his last barriers in the sport at the Maracana, though, to score against the Brazilians in a World Cup qualifier.
FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Shekh Morsalin guides Bangladesh to draw with Lebanon
Argentina will return home not only atop the South American qualifying standings but also having given its fans one more chance to celebrate a victory at the historic stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Two years ago, Ángel di Maria scored the only goal in an empty Maracana to give his team the Copa America title.
The violent pre-match incident, starting shortly after the national anthems, stalled the start for 27 minutes. Argentina, led by Messi, headed to the locker rooms for 22 minutes. At least one fan left the stadium bleeding from his head. Rio police said they had arrested eight people due to the brawl.
FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Bangladesh to play Lebanon on Tuesday
The aggression between fans was reflected on the field in the first 20 minutes of the encounter; the referee gave fouls against Brazil during that time. The tension eased and allowed Argentina to avoid direct confrontation.
Brazil wasted opportunities, with Raphinha’s free kick in the 38th minute and Cristian Romero saving Argentina near the goal line six minutes later after a crossed shot by Gabriel Martinelli.
Brazil suggested they would keep the pressure after the break. Rodrygo forced goalkeeper Dibu Martinez to a close-range save in the 54th.
But Argentina’s goal in the 63rd with a header by Otamendi, who jumped above the Brazilian defenders to meet a corner kick, was one of the few chances the team created.
Teenager Endrick, one of Brazil’s big hopes up front, didn’t make much difference after he went on in the 72nd.
In the 81st, midfielder Joelinton, who had just stepped in as a substitute for Brazil, was sent off after pushing Rodrigo de Paul. Brazil fans ended the match chanting “ole” for every touch of the Argentinians, while the visiting supporters waved their shirts as some of their players celebrated on the pitch.
Argentina leads the 10-team South American qualifying competition with 15 points from six matches, followed by Uruguay on 13 and Colombia. Brazil could end the year in sixth position, with seven points.
The 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada will include 48 teams, meaning direct entry for the top six teams from South America. The seventh-place team can earn a berth in an intercontinental playoff.
Also on Tuesday, Colombia won 1-0 at Paraguay; Uruguay beat Bolivia 3-0 in Montevideo; and Ecuador topped Chile 1-0.
Peru and Venezuela were still playing at the time the Brazil vs. Argentina match ended.
The seventh and eighth rounds of South American qualifying will take place in September after the next edition of Copa America in the United States.
FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Shekh Morsalin guides Bangladesh to draw with Lebanon
Promising striker Shekh Morsalin guided hosts Bangladesh to a 1-1 draw with the superior Arabian rivals Lebanon in their home match of the four-team Group I of the FIFA World Cup Asian Qualfiers at the housefull floodlight Bashundhara Kings Arena here Tuesday evening.
This was the first draw between 183rd-ranked Bangladesh and 104th-ranked Lebanon in their fourth meeting since 2011.
Lebanon had the upper hand in three previous meetings, beating Bangladesh twice against one defeat.
After a barren first half in the day's keenly contested match, substitute forward Majed Osman put Lebanon ahead in the 68th minute with an easy angular shot from a handshake distance, utilising blander mistakes by Bangladesh defender and substitute cusdodian Srabon (1-0).
Morsalin, who returned to the national squad after facing suspension, levelled the margin for Bangladesh just four minutes later (72nd minute) by a powerful shot amid huge jubilations from house-full local fans (1-1).
Bangladesh partly dominated over their superior rivals, Lebanon, except for the first ten minutes of the goalless first half, where they managed three good chances that were spoiled by Bishwanath Ghosh and Shekh Morsalin.
Bishwanath Ghosh managed the first chance in the 24th minute off a Jamal Bhuyan corner, but his poor header nicely saved the opponent goalkeeper.
Shekh Morsalin spoiled the remaining two chances in the 34th and 44th minutes as he failed to connect the ball home from close.
The match was also keenly contested in the second half, when both teams scored one goal each and left the field sharing one point each.
The Bangladesh team played the day's vital match without two key players, forward Rakib Hossain and defender Saaduddin, who missed the match against Lebanon for receiving the second yellow card in the last match against Australia.
Earlier, in the FIFA World Cup Qualification in 2011, Bangladesh conceded a 0-4 goal defeat against Lebanon in the away match, but Bangladesh returned brilliantly, beating Lebanon by 2-0 goals in their home match 12 years ago.
In the last SAFF Championship held in the Indian city of Bengaluru in June this year, Lebanon played as an invitee team and beat Bangladesh by 2-0 goals, both scored in the last ten minutes of the match.In their opening 2nd round Group I match of the going FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifers, Bangladesh made a frustrating start after conceding their 2nd worst 0-7 goals defeat against much stronger Australia in Melbourne last Thursday (Nov 16), featuring a hattrick by Maclaren.
FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Bangladesh to play Lebanon on Tuesday
Hosts Bangladesh National Football Team will play Arabian rivals Lebanon in their home match of the four-team Group I of the FIFA World Cup Asian Qualfiers on Tuesday.
The second round Group I match between two teams will kick off at 5:45 pm Bangladesh time on Tuesday evening at the Bashundhara Kings Arena in Dhaka.
FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Maclaren's hattrick helps hosts Australia to crush Bangladesh 7-0 in opener
In their opening second round Group I match, Bangladesh made a frustrating start after conceding their second worst 0-7 goals defeat against much stronger Australia in Melbourne last Thursday (Nov 16), featuring a hattrick by Maclaren.
The ever-worse defeat of the Bangladesh National Football Team was against South Korea by 0-9 goals in 1979.
FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Bangladesh to play much stronger Australia in Melbourne on Thursday
But Lebanon, in their first appearance in the second round Group I match, played to a goalless draw with Palestine at a neutral venue in the UAE, also on November 16.
Tuesday's match will be the fourth meeting between two teams since 2011, when Lebanon had the upper hand in the previous three meetings, beating Bangladesh twice against one defeat.
FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Bangladesh team make first practice session in Melbourne
In the FIFA World Cup qualification in 2011, Bangladesh conceded a 0-4 goal defeat against Lebanon in their away match in July, while they beat Lebanon by 2-0 goals in their home match on July 28.
In the last SAFF Championship in India in June this year, Lebanon played as an invitee team and beat Bangladesh by 2-0 goals, scored in the last ten minutes.
Two vital players of the Bangladesh team—forward Rakib Hossain and defender Saaduddin—will miss Tuesday's vital match against Lebanon, as both players received second yellow cards in the last match against Australia.
Lebanon reached Dhaka on November 17 morning, while the Bangladesh team returned Dhaka from Australia at night. Both teams made their final practices on Monday.
Earlier, Bangladesh earned the rights to play in the six-match Group I matches of the FIFA World Cup's Asian qualifiers with Australia, Lebanon, and Palestine, eliminating the Maldives in round 1 last month.
Bangladesh will play their remaining four Group I matches next year.
Bangladesh will play their home match against Palestine on March 21, their away match with Palestine on March 26, their home match against Australia on June 6, and their away match with Lebanon on June 11.
Messi seeks 1st goal against Brazil in World Cup qualifying, hosts try to avert crisis in Rio
Lionel Messi has few barriers yet to break in soccer. One of them will be in reach Tuesday, when Argentina visits Brazil in a South American World Cup qualifying match.
The 36-year-old Messi has scored 31 goals for Argentina in World Cup qualifying encounters, but none of those came against Brazil, home or away. He has five goals against the archrival, all in friendly matches.
Brazil’s soccer confederation said all 69,000 tickets for the clash at the Maracana Stadium are sold. Both teams will play after defeats in the previous round; the locals lost 2-1 at Colombia and the World Cup champion was defeated at home 2-0 by Uruguay.
Many Brazilian fans are keen to watch Messi in a match that could be his last in Rio de Janeiro playing for Argentina. In the same arena, the star lost the 2014 World Cup final to Germany, and beat the host in the decider of the 2021 Copa America.
Argentina leads the 10-team South American qualifying group with 12 points from five matches. Uruguay is second with 10 points. Colombia has nine and Venezuela eight. Brazil will host the World Cup champions in fifth position, with seven points.
Read: FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Maclaren's hattrick helps hosts Australia to crush Bangladesh 7-0 in opener
Ecuador, Paraguay and Chile have five points each. Bolivia has three and Peru one.
The 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada will include 48 teams, meaning direct entry for the top six teams from South America. The seventh-place team can earn a berth in an intercontinental playoff.
BRAZIL vs. ARGENTINA
Optimism is in short supply in Brazil, which lost its two latest matches and is struggling under new coach Fernando Diniz. A defeat to Argentina could be the team's first ever in a home match of World Cup qualifying, and the hosts will have several absences for that encounter.
Carlos Augusto is likely to start as left-back for the first time, Jesus will take the role of injured Vinicius Júnior up front and teenage sensation Endrick is likely to play in the second half.
The 17-year-old Endrick, who will join Real Madrid next year, spoke in a press conference about his expectations of playing against Messi for the first time.
“For me, Pelé is the king and no one will get near him. Messi is phenomenal, the best in the world again, and I want to enjoy playing against him, a man I only saw in the videogames,” the striker said. “I am more of a Cristiano Ronaldo fan, but it will be wonderful to see Messi up close.”
Read: Bangladesh team to leave for Melbourne to play Australia in FIFA World Cup qualifiers
Argentina will arrive in Brazil late on Monday and have its final training session for the clash in Buenos Aires. Coach Lionel Scaloni did not speak after Sunday's training, and had most of the practice behind closed doors, but gave hints of where his doubts are.
Ángel di Maria, Nicolás González and Leandro Paredes are in contention for a place in the midfield and Lautaro Martínez, who did not score for the national team in his previous 14 matches, could replace Julián Álvarez up front.
Read: Man City, Bayern, Madrid and Barcelona can advance in Champions League by extending perfect starts
Also on Tuesday, Paraguay will host Colombia; Uruguay will take on Bolivia; Ecuador welcomes Chile; and Peru plays host against Venezuela. The seventh and eighth rounds of South American qualifying will take place in September after the next edition of Copa America in the United States.
FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Maclaren's hattrick helps hosts Australia to crush Bangladesh 7-0 in opener
Bangladesh team made a frustrating start in the 2nd round opening Group I match of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers after suffering their ever-worse 0-7 goals defeat against their much stronger opponent Australia in Melbourne on Thursday evening (Nov 16).
The World Cup playing Australia, ranked 27th, clearly dominated the first half by 4-0 over the 183rd ranked Bangladesh in a one- sided match at the 30,000 capacity floodlight Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, also known as AAMI Park.
This was the 3rd straight and the worst defeat for Bangladesh against regular World Cup playing Australia since their first meeting in 2015 in the qualification round of FIFA World Cup.
Bangladesh suffered their biggest defeat losing to South Korea by 9-0 goals in 1979.
Bangladesh, under the current captain Jamal Bhuyan, suffered 0-5 goals defeat in their away match in Perth and conceded 0-4 goals defeat in home match in Dhaka in 2015.
In the day' s one sided affairs, Bangladesh were always found busy to resist opponent attacks one after another. Even, they were failed to make any single attempt towards the Australian, which made at-least 14 attempts to the Bangladesh net
In the 2nd round opener of the AFC World Cup Qualifiers 2026 on Thursday,
defender Harry Souttar opened the floodgate for Australia in the very 4th minute of the match by a good header, off a Craig Godwin set piece (1-0).
Forward Brandon Borrello doubled the Australian margin in the 20th minute by tapping the ball home from six- yard box, off a sudden cut by Connor Metcalfe, beating Bangladesh defender (2-0).
Striker Mitchell Duke scored the 3rd goal for Socceroos in the 37th minute with a brilliant header, utilising a neat cross from Connor Metcalfe (3-0).
Duke scored his 2nd and the 4th goal for Australia just three minutes later (40th minute) by a ground placing shot (4-0).
Australian substitute forward Jamie Maclaren, who appeared in the field at half time, scored three goals in a row to make a hattrick.
Jamie scored the 5th goal in the 49th minute from a counter attack, off a Jordi Bos pass, apparently from an off side position (5-0).
Jamie Maclaren further widened the Australian margin in the 70th minute, tapping the ball home, getting a loose ball from Bangladesh keeper Mitul Marma (6-0).
Jamie Maclaren sealed the fate of the match scoring his 3rd and the 7th goal for Australia in the 84th minute, also featured a hattrick, also tap-in ball home, capitalizing on a low cross of Lewis Miller (7-0).
In the 88th minite, Bangladesh custodian Mitul Marma saved from another awkward situation saving a penalty, diving low to his right to foil Mass Luongo's attempt.
Australia got the penalty when Bangladesh substitute defender Shakil Hossain fouled onrushing Aiden O' Neill from behind in the danger zone.
Both the teams made five chances in their day's line up, where hosts Australia dominated the match all through beating their poor opponents in all departments.
Soon after returning from Australia, Bangladesh team will play their home match of the World Cup Asian Qualifiers against Lebanon on November 21 at 5:45 pm Bangladesh time at Bashundhara Kings Arena in Dhaka.
However, Bangladesh will play their remaining four Group I matches next year.
Bangladesh will play their home against Palestine on March 21, away match with Palestine on March 26, home match against Australia on June 6 and away match with Lebanon on June 11.
Earlier, Bangladesh earned the rights to play in the six-match home and away basis Group I matches of the FIFA World Cup's Asian qualifiers with Australia, Lebanon and Palestine eliminating the Maldives in the round 1 match last month.
FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Bangladesh team make first practice session in Melbourne
Bangladesh National Football team made their first practice session in Melbourne on the second day at the Yarraville Glory Football Club ground in Victoria on Monday evening, ahead of their away match against World Cup playing Australia.
The Bangladesh team, which reached the Australian city of Menbourne on Saturday midnight, made only gym and recovery sessions on the very first day (Sunday) at the team hotel to make the players fit following a long journey.
Also read: FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Bangladesh team make gym, recovery session in Melbourne Sunday
Bangladesh will play their first second round Group I match of the FIFA World Cup Asian Qualfiers against highly ranking and much superior Australia in Melbourne Thursday (Nov 16) evening,
The match will kick off at 8:00 pm local time and 3:00 pm Bangladesh time.
Soon after returning from Australia, the Bangladesh team will play their home match of the World Cup Asian Qualifiers against Lebanon on November 21 at 5:45 pm Bangladesh time at Bashundhara Kings Arena in Dhaka.
In a media briefing on Monday, Bangladesh captain Jamal Bhuyan said, "I am very happy to make practices in Australia (Melbourne) togather with whole team after two days, maximum of our players, except me and Tareq are little bit victim of local cold weather, I think they will adopt them with local condition within a day or two, and we have to play here in this situation".
Also read: FIFA World Cup 2026 2nd Round Qualifiers: BAN vs AUS Match Preview
"Our players are confident; they concentrated themselves on the game, and the local windy weather will not affect the game inside the stadium," he added.
Assistant coach of Bangladesh team Hasan Al Mamun said, "I am very happy with the day's first session; the local weather is windy and comparatively cold compared to us. Initially, we took a little time to adjudge the ball, but we will be able to overcome it soon."
"In the day's first practice session, we focused on our strategy to face our tough rivals, marking their strong zone. All of our players are now fully fit and are eagerly waiting to do something better," he further said.
Also read: Bangladesh’s matches in the 2nd Round Qualifiers of FIFA World Cup 2026: Schedules, Fixtures, Team
Bangladesh played Australia on two occasions earlier under the present captain, Jamal Bhuyan, in the qualification round of the 2015 FIFA World Cup.
Bangladesh suffered a 0-5 goal defeat in their away match in Perth and conceded a 0-4 goal defeat against them in their home match in Dhaka.
Australia was eliminated from the last FIFA World Cup in Qatar, losing to World Champions Argentina by 1-2 goals.
Bangladesh earned the rights to play in the six-match home and away basis Group I matches of the FIFA World Cup's Asian qualifiers with Australia, Lebanon, and Palestine, eliminating the Maldives in the round 1 match last month.
23-member final squad of Bangladesh:
Goalkeepers: Mitul Marma, Mehdi Hassan Srabon, and Pappu HossainDefenders: Bishwanath Ghosh, Hasan Murad, Tareq Raihan Kazi, Rahmat Mia, Isa Faysal, Shakil Hossain, and Saad Uddin
Midfielders: Sohel Rana, Shekh Morsalin, Mohammad Ridoy, Md Sohel Rana, Mojibor Rahman Jony, Rabiul Hasan, Jamal Bhuyan and Jayed Ahmed
Forwards: Rakib Hossain, Sumon Reza, Foysal Ahmed Fahim, Rafiqul Islam and Mohammad Ibrahim.
FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Bangladesh team make gym, recovery session in Melbourne Sunday
Bangladesh National Football team made their gym and recovery session at the team hotel in Melbourne on the first day (Sunday) ahead of their away match against World Cup playing Australia.
Bangladesh team, which reached the Australian city of Melbourne Saturday mid-night after a long journey, have no practice session on Sunday, and will make their first practice session on Monday.
Touring Bangladesh will play their first 2nd round Group I match against highly ranked and much stronger Australia in Melbourne on Nov 16.
Soon after returning from Australia, Bangladesh team will play their home match of the World Cup Qualifiers against Lebanon on November 21 at Bashundhara Kings Arena in Dhaka.
In a media briefing on Sunday, Bangladesh defender Rahmat Mia said, "We reached here after a long journey of about 24 hours, Alhamdulillah, we reached here safely and all of our players are in sound health, we made our first gym and recovery session today (Sunday) at the team hotel and we will make our practice session tomorrow (Monday)."
"Local weather is windier and colder than ours, so we came here four days ahead of the match. It will be very useful and also important for us to make practices within the period to adjust with the local conditions," he added.
The Spanish Head Coach of Bangladesh team Javier Cabrera said, "we made recovery session today (Sunday) to make our player fit following a long journey, we will make practices tomorrow and have three practice sessions here which is a good opportunity for us to prepare the team ahead of the match"
Bangladesh played Australia on two occasions earlier under the present captain Jamal Bhuyan in the qualification round of the 2015 FIFA World Cup.
Bangladesh suffered 0-5 goals defeat in their away match in Perth and conceded 0-4 goals defeat against them in home match in Dhaka.
Australia was eliminated from the last FIFA World Cup in Qatar losing to World Champions Argentina.
Bangladesh earned the rights to play in the six-match home and away basis Group I matches of the FIFA World Cup's Asian qualifiers with Australia, Lebanon and Palestine eliminating the Maldives in the round 1 match last month.
23-- member final squad of Bangladesh:
Goalkeepers: Mitul Marma, Mehdi Hassan Srabon, and Pappu Hossain
Defenders: Bishwanath Ghosh, Hasan Murad, Tareq Raihan Kazi, Rahmat Mia, Isa Faysal, Shakil Hossain and Saad Uddin
Midfielders: Sohel Rana, Shekh Morsalin, Mohammad Ridoy, Md Sohel Rana, Mojibor Rahman Jony, Rabiul Hasan, Jamal Bhuyan and Jayed Ahmed;
Forwards: Rakib Hossain, Sumon Reza, Foysal Ahmed Fahim, Rafiqul Islam and Mohammad Ibrahim.
Bangladesh High Commission in Malaysia organizes Sheikh Russel Memorial Football Tournament
The semi-finals and final match of the Sheikh Russel Memorial Football Tournament organized bt Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur were held marking the 60th birthday of Sheikh Russel, the youngest son of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The matches were held on Saturday at the Challenger Sports Centre in Kuala Lumpur.
In the final match, UCSI University team won 4-2 against BD FC Club to become the champion.
The high commission organized the tournament with the participation of 12 teams of Bangladesh community living in Malaysia as part of various programs.
After the match, Bangladesh High Commissioner to Malaysia Md Shamim Ahsan distributed prizes among the winners and runners-up teams.
At the award distribution ceremony, High Commissioner Md Shamim Ahsan congratulated the players for participating in the Sheikh Russel Memorial Football Tournament and thanked all those involved in the tournament.
Prominent leaders of Bangladesh community living in Malaysia and officials and employees of the High Commission were present at the award distribution ceremony.