Also read: Bangladesh girls beat Bhutan, set up final clash with India
Despite the senior team being ranked lower than India, the young Bangladesh girls have a better record against their neighbour in the youth level. Bangladesh U-14 team, comprising most of the current U-15 players, defeated India twice in the AFC Girls’ Regional Championship last year. They won 3-1 in the group stage before registering a comfortable 4-0 win in the final. Both the sides made positive start to the tournament with Bangladesh beating Nepal and Bhutan by 6-0 and 3-0 respectively while India beat Bhutan 3-0 before crushing Nepal 10-0 in the second match. India are currently at the top of the points table, albeit only by goal-difference.
Also read: Akhi Khatun, Bangladesh’s Maldini in the making
Like Bangladesh, who have 10 players from the same district of Mymensingh, more specifically Kalsindur village, in their 23-member squad, India also have 10 players from the same north-eastern Indian state of Manipur. Head coach Golam Rabbani Choton hinted no rest for his key players ahead of the title-decider, treating today’s tie as important as the final. The long-term Bangladesh coach doesn't want to concentrate on the opponent players. Rather, they are focusing on their own players. He however, reminded that their main target of the event is to lift the title with 100% winning record.THURSDAY'S MATCHESBangladesh U15 v India U15, 11:30amNepal U15 v Bhutan U15, 2:30pmBoth the games will be held at Birsreshtha Shaheed Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Kamalapur, Dhaka
