Bangladesh left for Vietnam on Wednesday night with very little expectations of achieving something big in the forthcoming AFC Under-20 Asian Cup 2025 Qualifiers to be held at the Lach Tray Stadium in Hai Phong from September 21 to 29.
Bangladesh, who are in five-team Group A, will take on Syria in their first match on Saturday before facing Guam, Vietnam, and Bhutan on September 23, 27, and 29, respectively.
The 10-group winners and five best runners-up of the qualifiers tournament will join hosts China in the 16-team finals to be held from February 6 to 23, 2025.
Coach Maruful Haque, who led Bangladesh to victory in the SAFF Under-20 Championship 2024 in Nepal, bemoaned the short preparation period and stated that he didn鈥檛 expect much from it.
鈥楤efore the SAFF Championship, I could confidently say that we would go on to become champions, but this time I am not able to say that,鈥� Maruful said during a news conference after naming the squad at the Bangladesh Football Federation on Wednesday.
鈥楩or various reasons, I can鈥檛 assure you of our qualification (the final stage). But I will be taking the responsibility if we fail, as I am the coach of the team.
鈥業 received a full team to train for three days, but the Bashundhara Kings players arrived late due to club policy... So we lack confidence.
鈥榃e required a full team for at least a week-long training for confidence building, but we didn鈥檛 get it, and I couldn鈥檛 design a proper plan owing to time constraints鈥�, he added.
After returning from Nepal on August 29, Maruful began the camp on September 4 and played a warm-up match in response to a club team request the following day, where key defender, Rostom Islam Dukhu Mia, sustained an injury that will require around six months to recover.
Two days later, the squad faced a huge setback when seven players got infected with dengue virus, while four players were called up to the national team for two friendly matches against Bhutan in early September.
Maruful, the country鈥檚 lone UEFA Pro-silenced coach, then continued training with the remaining available players.
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Squad
Goalkeepers: Ishaque Akando, Sohanur Rahman, Ismail Hossain Mahin; Defenders: Imran Khan, Azizul Haque Ananto, Shakil Ahad Topu, Rajib Hossain, Parvej Ahmed, Kamacai Marma Aky, Rakib Hossain, Golam Rabby, Sirajul Islam Rana; Midfielders: Asadul Islam Sakib, Ashraful Haque Asif, Iftiar Hossain, Asadul Molla, Hossain Mohammad Arian, Razu Ahmed Zisan; Forwards: Iftesam Rahman Jidan, Mirajul Islam, Piash Ahmmed Nova, Moinul Islam Moin, Nazim Uddin.