Bangladesh aim to end Asian Cup qualifiers with win over Singapore

The 'Hamza era' in Bangladesh football began with the Asian Cup qualifying campaign. The team started their qualification journey with a goalless draw against India on March 25, 2025. On Tuesday, March 31, they will conclude this qualifying campaign with a match against Singapore at the Kalang National Stadium, kicking off at 6:00 pm Bangladesh time.

After five matches in the qualifiers, Bangladesh have accumulated 5 points. In Group B, which comprises four teams, Bangladesh are placed third. Singapore lead the group with 11 points, followed by Hong Kong with 8 points, while India are at the bottom with 2 points. A win against Singapore would give Bangladesh the opportunity to move up to second place in the standings.

Bangladesh's target was to qualify for the main tournament. Although that dream has ended, the players in red and green are approaching this final match with added significance, aiming to end the qualifying campaign on a high note. However, Singapore are a strong opponent on home soil. They have already secured their place in the Asian Cup main tournament. The match against them will not be easy.

But ahead of this tough fixture, Hamza and his teammates have had a significant test. On March 26, Bangladesh played a friendly against Vietnam, who are ranked 78 places higher in the FIFA rankings. Despite losing 3-0, coach Javier Cabrera's side played promising football. Singapore are ranked much lower than Vietnam, though still 45 places above Bangladesh. Expectations are that Hamza and his teammates will deliver a good performance on Singapore's turf.

Bangladesh last faced Singapore in June last year at home, which was Dewan Hamza Chowdhury's debut match. In that high-profile encounter, Hamza's side lost 2-1 to Singapore. Now they play on Singapore's ground, with the team setting their sights on victory. However, Bangladesh have never beaten Singapore in their history. Can Hamza and his teammates change this record?

Bangladesh will be without Rakib Hossain due to suspension; the winger had scored against Singapore in the previous meeting. Experienced defender Topu Barman will also miss the match due to suspension, increasing the challenges for Bangladesh. However, coach Cabrera remains optimistic. The Spanish coach has said his side proved themselves in the last match against Vietnam. Despite the loss, he is confident Bangladesh can beat Singapore.

In the previous match, the team conceded goals from set-pieces, a long-standing weakness. Against Singapore, they cannot afford any set-piece errors. Hamza and his teammates will take the field determined to correct their past mistakes.

Bangladesh assistant coach Hasan Al Mamun said, "We want to return with a win and points." The Bangladesh team are energised by the support of expatriate Bangladeshis in Singapore. Canadian expatriate midfielder Shomit Soma said, "Our mindset has changed. We are optimistic we can perform well." Captain Jamal Bhuiyan also promised the best possible performance. Bangladesh are ready to deliver a united, collective performance.