The Bangladesh women’s football team has secured a spot in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup with a match to spare. Their final group-stage game against Turkmenistan was merely a formality, as qualification had already been confirmed. However, the team made a powerful statement by thrashing their opponents 7-0, completing their Asian Cup qualifying mission in style.
Bangladesh topped Group C of the qualifiers with a perfect record, earning 9 points from 3 matches and finishing as unbeaten group champions. Across the three games, Bangladesh scored a total of 16 goals, while conceding just one a remarkable turnaround compared to their previous Asian Cup campaigns.
In contrast, their group rivals, including Myanmar, who have previously hosted the tournament, managed only a single goal against Bangladesh. This performance underscores how much the Bangladeshi women’s team has improved on the continental stage, especially following their recent success as back-to-back SAFF champions.
In today’s final group match, held at the Yangon Stadium in Myanmar, Bangladesh exploded into action early, taking a 7-0 lead by halftime against Turkmenistan. All seven goals were scored in the first 45 minutes, as the team showed ruthless finishing and relentless attacking play.
- 3rd minute – Swapna Rani opened the scoring.
- 6th & 13th minutes – Shamsunnahar netted a brace.
- 16th minute – Monica joined the scoresheet.
- 17th minute – Rituparna added another.
- 20th minute – Tohura Khatun made it 6-0.
- 42nd minute – Rituparna scored her second and Bangladesh’s seventh.
Though they couldn’t add to their tally in the second half, Bangladesh came close to setting a historic record. Just three more goals would have given them a double-digit scoreline — a rare feat for the country’s senior women’s team on the international stage. A 10+ goal margin would also have marked Bangladesh’s largest-ever win in women’s international football.
Bangladesh began their qualifying journey with a commanding 7-0 win over Bahrain, scoring five goals in the first half of that match. Against Turkmenistan today, they replicated their attacking flair with a seven-goal first-half blitz. Turkmenistan, on the other hand, struggled throughout the tournament, having already conceded eight goals against Myanmar in their opening match.
This qualification campaign is especially significant when compared to past efforts. In the previous two editions of the Asian Cup qualifiers, Bangladesh failed to win a single match and suffered heavy defeats. The turnaround in this edition reflects both improved preparation and team maturity.
The Bangladesh team is scheduled to depart from Myanmar tomorrow afternoon and is expected to arrive in Dhaka around midnight. The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) is reportedly planning a late-night reception to honor the players and celebrate their qualification success.
This qualification not only reflects a tactical and technical leap forward for Bangladesh women’s football but also sets the tone for bigger ambitions at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup next year.
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FAQ
1. How did Bangladesh qualify for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup?
Answer: Bangladesh qualified as the unbeaten champion of Group C, winning all three of their group-stage matches. They secured 9 points and a +15 goal difference, which confirmed their qualification before their final match against Turkmenistan.
2. What was Bangladesh’s biggest win in the qualifiers?
Answer: Bangladesh’s biggest win was a 7-0 victory over Bahrain, followed by another 7-0 win against Turkmenistan. Both matches showcased their attacking strength, with all seven goals against Turkmenistan coming in the first half.
3. Has Bangladesh ever performed this well in previous Asian Cup qualifiers?
Answer: No, this is Bangladesh’s best performance in the Asian Cup qualifiers to date. In previous editions, they failed to win a match and conceded many goals. This time, they showed significant improvement by dominating the group and conceding just one goal in three matches.