Defending champions Bangladesh take on hosts Nepal Wednesday in the grand finale of the seven-nation South Asian Football Federation Women's Championship 2024, scheduled to be held at Dasharath Rangasala Stadium in Kathmandu.
The finale kicks off at 6:45pm Bangladesh time.
This will be the second occasion Bangladesh will meet Nepal in the SAFF final after Sabina and Co made history in the 2022 edition, beating the hosts by 3-1 margin to clinch their maiden SAFF title.
Bangladesh have a good chance to retain the SAFF title following their excellent displays all through the tournament.
Sabina Khatun and her team confirmed their final berth after thrashing Bhutan by 7-1 goals in the first semi-final last Sunday at the same venue, riding on a magnificent hat-trick by diminutive forward Tohura Khatun.
Tahura has netted five goals in two matches, having scored a brace in the final group fixture that helped Bangladesh secure a comfortable 3-1 win over India last week.
Bangladesh have also shown good brand of football in their group phase matches.
They played out a 1-1 goal draw with Pakistan in their opening group clash before outplaying five-time SAFF champions India to emerge pool champions.
Bangladesh national women’s team head coach Peter Butler must be expecting the same performance from his charges in the final.
On the other hand, five-time SAFF runners-up Nepal secured a spot in the final after a tense second semi-final against India.
The match, which ended in a 1-1 draw during stipulated time, was decided by a penalty shootout where the hosts eventually won by 4-2 goals.
Earlier, Nepal played out a goalless draw with Bhutan in their opening group game, but they bounced back to register an overwhelming 11-0 drubbing over the Maldives.
The Himalayan nation emerged as the group champions after thrashing Sri Lanka by 6-0 goals in the last group match.
Bangladesh squad: Rupna Chakma, Mosammat Yeazman Begum, Mile Akter, Masura Parvin, Afeida Khandakar, Sheuli Azim, Shamsunnahar, Nilifa Yasmin Nila, Kohati Kisku, Monika Chakma, Maria Manda, Sapna Rani, Munki Akter, Airin Akter, Sumaya Matsushima, Sanjida Akter, Ritu Porna Chakma, Shaheda Akter Ripa, Sabina Khatun, Tohura Khatun, Shamsunnahar Jr, Krishna Rani Sarkar and Mosammat Sagorika.
