Head coach Peter Butler called eight footballers from the Asian Cup 2026 qualifying team as he announced a 23-member Bangladesh squad for the SAFF Under-20 Women鈥檚 Championship to be held at the Bashundhara Kings Arena from July 11 to 21.听
Afeida Khandaker, who captained the national team in Myanmar in the Asian Cup qualifiers, will lead the age-level side, while goalkeepers Swarna Rani Mandal and Mile Akter; defender Joynob Bibi Rita; midfielder Sapna Rani; Munki Akhter; and forwards Sagorika and Umehla Marma are the other members who are included in the squad.
This is the first time Butler will guide an age-level team, with Bangladesh taking on Sri Lanka in the opening match on Friday.
In their other matches of the double-leg format competition, Bangladesh will face Nepal on July 13 and 21 while playing Bhutan on July 15 and 17 before facing Sri Lanka again on July 19. After facing each other twice, the top team will emerge champions.听
Afeida vowed to maintain their spirit of Asian Cup qualifying in the age-level competition as Bangladesh won this title four times and lost only once in 2022 to India, who are not taking part this time.
鈥榃e are last edition鈥檚 champions, and as a result, we will look to retain the title. We are not taking any opponents lightly. We want to progress match by match and win the matches to stay on the top of the table,鈥� said Afeida after the announcement of the team at the BFF House on Wednesday.
Butler, who guided the senior squad to an unbeaten campaign in Myanmar, echoed the importance of staying grounded amid back-to-back challenges.
鈥業 think the most important thing is we want to go about it the right way鈥� You want to make a good impression, and you want to win football matches and put points on the board. Obviously, since coming back, we鈥檝e been straight into it鈥� It鈥檚 just about bringing the girls back down to earth without a bump 鈥� bringing them back into reality and making them realise the responsibilities,鈥� said Butler.
听
Squad
Goalkeepers: Swarna Rani Mandal, Mile Akter, Fardosi Akter Shonale; Defenders: Joynob Bibi Rita, Afeida Khandaker (captain), Surma Jannat, Kanom Akter, Ruma Akter; Midfielders: Kanon Rani Bahadur, Sapna Rani, Oeyshi Khatun, Ayonto Bala Mahato, Rupa Akter, Bonna Khatun, Munki Akhter, Sinha Jahan Shikha, Shanti Mardi, Nadia Akter Juti; Forwards: Nabiran Khatun, Trishna Rani, Sagorika, Umehla Marma, Puja Das.
