DHAKA, June 24, 2025 (BSS)- Bangladesh National Women's Football team, led by 
Afeida Khandaker, to depart here for Myanmar early tomorrow (Wednesday) at 
2.45 am to take part in the AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026 (qualifiers) 
scheduled to be held from June 29 to July 5 in Myanmar's Yangon city, 
formerly known as Rangoon.

Bangladesh, which pitted in group C along with Bahrain, Turkmenistan and host 
Myanmar, will start their tournament campaign taking on Bahrain on June 29. 
The girls in red and green will play their remaining group matches against 
host Myanmar and Turkmenistan on July 2 and July 5 respectively.
 
All the matches will be held at Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon.

Addressing a pre-departure press conference held at the Bangladesh Football 
Federation (BFF) conference room today (Tuesday), Afeida Khandaker said: "We 
don't have much time for preparation after coming from Jordan ...Our target 
will be to qualify in the final... All three matches are equally very 
important for us... Our opponents Bahrain, Myanmar and Turkmenistan are very 
strong sides... We'll try to win match by match against them and hope we'll 
return home after fulfilling our target."

Replying to a question, the Bangladesh team captain said the experience of 
playing against Jordan and Indonesia would enable them to make a good 
performance in the upcoming Asian Cup in Myanmar.

Team head coach Peter James Butler said he is confident and optimistic for 
the result in Myanmar. 

The head coach said all through the girls are going to play physically 
superior and tactically improved sides in the tournament but he is very much 
confident and optimistic with the team and looking for a result.

BFF and AFC member and BFF women's winning Chairman Mahfuza Akter Kiron said, 
"In terms of ranking host Myanmar (55th) has long been ahead of us, not only 
in ranking, Myanmar also played five times in AFC Asian Cup. Bahrain was also 
better than us (92nd) and they played two times in the qualifiers."

Turkmenistan ranked 41st and did not participate in qualifiers.

She said the team would furnish their plan match by match and try to win.

Kiron said Myanmar is very strong team and get the home ground advantage.
 
Dhaka Bank executive vice-president Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman Polash was also 
present in the press conference.

Bangladesh women's football team:

Rupna Chakma, Sheuli Azim, Shamsunnahar (Sr.) Monika Chakma, Maria Manda, 
Ritu Porna Chakma, Tohura Khatun, Shamsunnahar (Jr.), Mst. Sagorika, Afeida 
Khandakar (captain), Sheheda Akter Ripa, Mst Munki Akter, Sapna Rani, Kohati 
Kisku, Sauravi Akanda Prity, Most Sultana, Swarna Rani Mandal, Mst Joynob 
Bibi Rita, Halima Akhter, Nabiran Khatun, Mile Akter, Umehla Marma and Nilufa 
Yasmin Nila.