With renewed energy and international reinforcements, Bangladesh are set to take on Singapore in a crucial Group C clash of the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers at the National Stadium in Dhaka today (Tuesday).
Kick-off is scheduled for 7:00 pm local time.
This evening’s encounter will be pivotal for both teams, as Group C remains finely balanced after each side opened their qualifying campaign with goalless draws.
Hosts Bangladesh, along with Singapore, India, and Hong Kong, all sit level on one point apiece, making today’s fixture a potential turning point in the group standings.
Adding to the sense of occasion, the match will mark Bangladesh’s return to competitive international football at home with a stronger and more dynamic lineup than in recent years.
The Bangladesh squad has been bolstered by the high-profile inclusion of two foreign-born players of Bangladeshi heritage—Hamza Dewan Chowdhury, a defensive midfielder who previously featured in the English Premier League, and Shamit Shome, a Canadian international currently playing in North America’s top flight.
Also in contention is Fahamedul Islam, the young forward from Italy’s lower leagues who impressed during his debut against Bhutan in last week’s 2-0 win in a FIFA Tier-1 International Friendly. His potential presence in today’s match could add further bite to Bangladesh's attacking options.
Following that morale-boosting victory over Bhutan, confidence in the Bangladesh camp is soaring—something rarely seen in recent qualifying campaigns.
The two teams last met in a qualifier in 2015, where Singapore edged Bangladesh 2-1 in Dhaka. Aware of that history, head coach Javier Cabrera has stressed the importance of composure and tactical discipline in turning the tide this time around.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference on Monday, Bangladesh captain Jamal Bhuyan remained optimistic:
“Singapore are a strong side, but we believe in our progress. To get a win, we need to deliver our best performance.”
Singapore’s Japanese head coach, meanwhile, dismissed the importance of FIFA rankings in the buildup, stating that both teams are evenly matched and that today's encounter will be tightly contested.
Elsewhere in Group C, India will take on Hong Kong in a key away fixture at the newly inaugurated Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong, also scheduled for today.
Both Bangladesh and Singapore held their final training sessions on Monday at the National Stadium, with fans eagerly awaiting whether Bangladesh’s revitalized squad can deliver a statement victory on home soil.
With only a few matches in this round-robin phase, a win today would significantly boost Bangladesh’s hopes of progressing to the next round of qualifiers for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 in Saudi Arabia. A loss, on the other hand, could pile pressure on the remaining fixtures in a group where margins are already razor-thin.
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