Dooley eyes ending Bangladesh's 23-year SAFF title drought

Bangladesh head coach Thomas Dooley has set his sights on ending the nation's 23-year wait for the SAFF Championship title, expressing confidence that his rejuvenated squad has what it takes to reclaim South Asian football's biggest prize.

The Bengal Tigers last lifted the SAFF Championship trophy in 2003 on home soil and have since failed to regain regional supremacy. With a revamped squad featuring the likes of Hamza Choudhury and Shamit Shome, Dooley believes the time is right to bring the title back to Dhaka.

Speaking at the unveiling of the 15th SAFF Championship logo at a five-star hotel in the capital on Saturday (July 25), Dooley stressed that his team's focus will remain on winning every match, regardless of the opposition.

"We want to win every game, whether the opponent is Germany, Brazil, Argentina or any team around our ranking," Dooley said.

The German coach praised the blend of youth and experience in the squad and urged his players to give everything on the pitch while promising supporters an entertaining brand of football.

"We want fans to leave the stadium satisfied with our performance. Our goal is to give them reasons to celebrate victories and enjoy the way we play," he added.

Reiterating that winning the tournament is the ultimate objective, Dooley called on his players to give their maximum effort in every match, while also asking supporters to remain patient if mistakes occur.

"Our target is to become champions. The players must give everything they have. If the opponent is better on the day, that's football. Even the world's biggest stars make mistakes," he said.

Dooley also believes strong home support can provide Bangladesh with a crucial edge and urged fans to fill the stands as the team bids to end its long-standing title drought.

The 15th SAFF Championship will be held in Bangladesh from November 4 to 17, with seven South Asian nations—Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Maldives, Bhutan and Sri Lanka—set to participate. An invited guest team may also feature, while the official draw will take place in Thimphu, Bhutan, on August 1.