Defending champions Bangladesh will be eyeing their second successive final when they take on a much improved Bhutan in the first semi-final of the SAFF Women鈥檚 Championship 2024 at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu, Nepal, today.聽
The match is scheduled to begin at 1.45pm Bangladesh Standard Time before hosts Nepal and five-time champions India collide in the second semi-final at 6.45pm at the same venue.
Bangladesh advanced to the last-four as the three-team Group A champions following their 3-1 win over India and a 1-1 draw against Pakistan in the seventh edition of the tournament.
Bhutan finished as the runners-up from four-team Group B after a crushing 13-0 win over the Maldives, a 4-1 win over Sri Lanka, and a goalless draw against Nepal.
Bangladesh defeated Bhutan 8-0 in last edition鈥檚 semi-final in 2022, en route to their way to win their maiden title in this competition.
鈥業 just know it won鈥檛 be easy because Bhutan has improved. And you have to show them the respect they deserve,鈥� Bangladesh coach Peter Butler told reporters after training at the Army Headquarters playground on Saturday.
鈥楾echnically and tactically, we are better than them [Bhutan], and we have proven that... but we have to be realistic because they are in the semi-finals because they deserve to be in,鈥� he added.
Bangladesh鈥檚 key midfielder Maria Manda echoed the coach, saying, 鈥楾here is no question of taking them lightly鈥e know how strong they are. We must not take the ground looking back to previous success against them.鈥�
鈥楾he current Bhutan team is different from the previous time; they improved a lot... So we have our preparation to give our best against them,鈥� she said.
The final of this tournament will be held at the same venue on October 30.