Bangladesh national football team to fly for Qatar Thursday morning
Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) on Wednesday announced a 37-member Qatar-bound national team including 27 booters and 10 officials without team's British Head Coach Jamie Day, who tested Covid-19 positive for the second time on Monday after being diagnosed with coronavirus in a routine test last Saturday, a day after the victory over Nepal.
A 37-member Bangladesh national football contingent will fly for Qatar Thursday (Nov 19) morning at 10:30 am to play their FIFA World Cup 2022 Qualifiers Round-2 away match against hosts Qatar in Doha on December 4.
Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) on Wednesday announced a 37-member Qatar-bound national team including 27 booters and 10 officials without team's British Head Coach Jamie Day, who tested Covid-19 positive for the second time on Monday after being diagnosed with coronavirus in a routine test last Saturday, a day after the victory over Nepal.
All the players and officials of Bangladesh tested Covid-19 negative before departure.
However, Jamie Day may join the national squad in Qatar later after recovery.
Earlier on Tuesday, Bangladesh smartly clinched the two-match Mujib Borsho FIFA International Series 1-0 after playing out a goalless draw with touring Nepal in the series-deciding 2nd match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
Bangladesh made a flying start in the two-match series, first of its kind in South Asia during Covid-19 pandemic, beating Nepal 2-0 in the first match last Friday, to taste their first victory over the Himalayan nation after five years.
In the series, Bangladesh not only smartly returned to the international football after about ten months but also earned morale boost-up ahead of their tough match against Asian giant Qatar.
Earlier, Bangladesh started their campaign in FIFA and AFC joint qualifiers last year with a 0-1 defeat against Afghanistan in the first match in the Tajik capital of Dushanbe on September 10, conceded a 0-2 goals defeat against Asian champions Qatar in the second match in Dhaka on October 10, played to a 1-1 draw against India in their third match in Kolkata on October 15 and conceded 1-4 goals defeat against Oman in the fourth match at the Seeb Sports Stadium in Al Seeb city of Oman on November 14.
In the five-team Group E, Qatar is now leading the point table with 13 points from five matches while Bangladesh are at the bottom place with one point from four matches. Among others, Oman secured 12, Afghanistan 4 and India 3 points.
Bangladesh team: Players-Ashraful Islam Rana, Anisur Rahman Zico, Pappu Hossain, Topu Barman, Bishwanath Ghosh, Yeasin Khan, Rahmat Miya, Sushanto Tripura, Riyadul HasanRayhan Hasan, Jamal Bhuiyan, Atiqur Rahman Fahad, Mamunul Islam Mamun, Sohel Rana, Rabiul Hasan, Biplo Ahamed, Mohammad Ibrahim, Saaduddin, Nabib Newaj Jibon, Towhidul Alam Sabuj, Rakib Hossain, Manik Hossain Mollah, Yeasir Arafat, Monjurur Rahman,Sumon Reza ,Mahbubur Rahman Sufil and MS Bablu.
Officials: Amer Khan (Manager), Stuart Paul Watkiss (Asstt Coach), Masud Parvez Kaiser (Asstt Coach), Leslie Cleevely(Goalkeeping Coach), Ivan Razlog (Fitness Coach), Andre Juan Carle (Physio), Fuad Hasan Hawlader (Physio), M Atiquzzaman (Doctor), Hasan Mahmud (Media Officer) and Mohamad Mohsin (Attendant)