Bangladesh to face Maldives in two crucial friendlies this November

Bangladesh national football team is gearing up for a two-match series against the Maldives in November as part of their preparations for the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.

Following their mixed performance against Bhutan, where they won one match but lost another, Bangladesh aims to improve its FIFA rankings. With the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers draw approaching, these friendlies provide a crucial opportunity for coach Javier Cabrera's side to build momentum.

The matches are scheduled for 13 and 16 november at the Bashundhara Kings Arena in Dhaka. The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) general secretary, Imran Hossain Tushar, confirmed the details, saying, "We have received written confirmation from the Maldives, and both games will take place at the Kings Arena. Preparations are well underway."

Maldives, ranked 163rd in the world, will be Bangladesh's opponents, who are currently placed 186th in the FIFA rankings. This will be their first international match this year, with the Maldives Football Federation struggling in recent months. The last time these two teams met, Bangladesh secured a 2-1 home victory, with goals from Rakib and Fahim, while the away game ended in a 1-1 draw.

Originally, Bangladesh had reached out to Malaysia and Thailand for potential friendlies, but opted for the Maldives due to logistical and financial considerations. "Malaysia and Thailand were only interested in playing one match, whereas the Maldives agreed to two. The number of games and the overall cost made the Maldives the more viable option," said Tushar.

Bashundhara Kings Arena continues to serve as Bangladesh's home ground, though the BFF is still finalising the arrangements with the venue. "We are in discussions with the Kings Arena authorities and will officially announce the details soon," added Tushar. With the BFF elections set for 26 october, the current executive committee is keen to ensure the upcoming FIFA window is utilised to its full potential.

The November window also comes with added excitement for Bangladeshi fans, as the BFF is in the final stages of securing Hamza Choudhury, the Premier League player of Bangladeshi origin, to play for the national team. The BFF has already filed an application with FIFA's Player Status Committee, and once cleared, Hamza could don the Bangladesh jersey. However, his participation in the November friendlies remains unlikely due to injury. "We have submitted all necessary documents to FIFA and are in touch with his family to provide additional paperwork," said Tushar.

Although Hamza is recovering from an injury, his debut for Bangladesh might still be a few months away. The AFC Asian Cup qualifiers are set to begin in March 2025, with the draw taking place in November, leaving Bangladesh fans hopeful of seeing the Premier League player in action by then.