Defending champion Bangladesh will take on Nepal in the ongoing 7th SAFF Women's Championship 2024 final today at the Dasharath Rangasala Stadium in Kathmandu, Nepal.

The match is scheduled to take place at 6:45 pm (Bangladesh Time).

Bangladesh, appearing in the SAFF Women’s Championship final for the third time, aims to defend the prestigious regional title they claimed two years ago by defeating Nepal 3-1 in the 2022 final, held at the same venue.

As reigning champions, Bangladesh will give their all to retain their historic title, striving to become only the second team after India to successfully defend the championship. India previously held the title five times consecutively.

Meanwhile, Nepal, competing in their seventh final today, will push hard to break their title drought after finishing as runners-up five times in the tournament’s history.

Reflecting on the upcoming match, Bangladesh captain Sabina Khatun said at a pre-match press conference on Tuesday, “Last time, we had an experienced team with exceptional players giving their best. But I feel both teams—past and present—are on par in terms of performance.”

She added, “Of course, we face some challenges with younger players adapting to a new environment. However, most of them have the advantage of having played on this field. I think the hosts may feel a bit more pressure than we do.”

Bangladesh head coach Peter Butler shared similar sentiments, saying, “We opted for a light training session today to avoid any risk of injuries. Our squad is highly competitive, so no matter who’s in the lineup, I’m confident in our team.”

Bangladesh opened the tournament with a 1-1 draw against Pakistan but rebounded with a 3-1 win over India and a resounding 7-1 victory over Bhutan in the semifinals.

Nepal, on the other hand, began with a scoreless draw against Bhutan before routing the Maldives and Sri Lanka with 11-0 and 6-0 wins. They then claimed a hard-fought 1(4)-1(2) victory over India in the semifinals.

Bangladesh will get some relief as Nepal’s Rekha Poudel is sidelined due to a red card in the semi-final against India, but they will need to stay alert to Nepal’s formidable player, Sabitra Bhandari.

BDST: 1000 HRS, OCT 30, 2024
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