The Bangladeshi women’s national football team, who won the seven-nation SAFF Women’s Football Championship with an undefeated record, received a befitting welcome upon their return from Nepal on Wednesday afternoon, according to UNB.
In their second attempt after 2006, Bangladesh won the inaugural SAFF Women’s championship, defeating four-time runner-up and host Nepal 3-1 in the final at Dashrath Stadium (Rangasala) in Kathmandu.
At around 1:50 pm, the team was welcomed by state minister for youth and sports Zahid Ahsan Russell at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
At the airport, the players and officials were greeted with garlands and then a cake was cut. Numerous thousands of football-obsessed fans flocked to the airport in Dhaka to congratulate the female players on their outstanding accomplishments.
At a brief press conference at the airport, Bangladeshi captain Sabina Khatun and midfielder Sanjida Akter addressed the media.
After completion of airport formalities, the national heroes boarded a well-decorated open-deck BRTC bus with the champion’s trophy at about 3:30 pm. They were on their way to the BFF office in Motijheel and exchanged greetings with fans standing on both sides of the road.
Ahead of the final, Sanjida Akter, a member of the Bangladesh women’s football team, said they might not get an open-deck bus to celebrate the win, still, they are committed to winning the tournament.
Krishna Rani Sarkar scored twice and Shamsunnahar Jr scored the other goal for the Sabina Akter-led Bangladesh team in the final.
Before the flight arrived in Dhaka, thousands of fans arrived in groups and waited outside Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. They were shouting slogans, congratulating the girls.
Bangladesh defeated the Maldives 3-0, Pakistan 6-0, and India 3-0 in group play, thrashed Bhutan 8-0 in the semifinal, and defeated hosts Nepal 3-1 in the final. In total, Bangladesh scored 23 goals while giving up just one in the championship game.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board offered a Tk 5 million prize for the winning girls in the meantime. The crew will also receive a Tk 5 million award, according to Toma Group.
