It’ll be an acid test for Bangladesh as the boys in red and green face Nepal in their do-or die match of the SAFF Championship scheduled to be held today (Wednesday) at National Football Stadium in Male, the capital of Maldives.

Private satellite channel T-Sports telecasts the match live that kicks off at 5 pm (BST).

Addressing at a pre match press conference today (Tuesday) Bangladesh team’s skipper Jamal Bhuyan said: “The group we have now is a very strong and the best players of Bangladesh Premier League are playing in the team …
most of the players know that we can make a history tomorrow (Wednesday) if we able to win, we can go to the final … so I have confidence on my players they will give their hundred percent and we’ll see a fresh Bangladeshi team
tomorrow.”

Jamal said the support which they have been getting in Maldives is brilliant so far and he hoped it would continue tomorrow (Wednesday) and the Bangladesh fans would get tickets and enjoy the national team’s match.

Jamal said they would get the Bangladeshi spectators a good match and hoped to win the match against Nepal.

Team’s head coach Oscar Bruzon said: “Our confidence brings us to a beautiful position …. we need to win the game against Nepal in ninety minute…… definitely we can do it and hope tomorrow (Wednesday) will be a beautiful day for us …… we’re ready and capable ……. Nepal is a strong team and shown their capability in the tournament ……. they (Nepal) played very effective football style …. we want to play the final and we have been working for that in the last twenty days.”

Bangladesh has been playing well brand of football in the competition so far and has won one, drawn one loss one, currently occupying the fourth place with four points from three matches. Bangladesh have no option left to win against Nepal to go to the final.

Before the important match against Nepal, the Jamal Bhuyan and Co. got enough time to recovery and prepared themselves and it’s expected that they will take to the field against the Himalaya Kingdom with full of energy and new vigor to snatch victory because they know it very well that even a draw will make them out from the final race.

Earlier, Bangladesh made a winning start beating Sri Lanka by a solitary goal in their tournament opening match and came from behind to force mighty India to play a 1-1 goal draw in their second match. Bangladesh however could
not keep the tempo after going down a 0-2 defeat to Maldives in their third match of the tournament.

On the other hand, Nepal are in a comfortable position in the points table standing second position with two wins and a loss from three matches. Nepal need only a draw against Bangladesh to confirm their spot of final of the
tournament.

Earlier, Nepal got off to a winning start beating 1-0 goal in their tournament opening match and defeated Sri Lanka by 3-2 goals in their second match of the championship. The Himalaya Kingdom however lost to India by conceding a goal in the dying moment of the match.

Bangladesh team: Sahidul Alam, Anisur Rahman, Ashraful Islam Rana, Rahmat Mia, Bishwanath Ghosh, Topu Barman, Riyadul Hasan, Yeasin Arafat , Razaul Karim Sohel Rana, Saad Uddin Biplo Ahmed, Jamal Bhuyan , Rakib Hossain , Suman Reza, Tariq Raihan Kazi, Mahbubur Rahman, Mohammad Ibrahim, Matin Miah, Mohammad Atiqur Rahman Fahad, Jewel Rana, Tutul Hosain Badsha and Mohammad Hridoy.