Once again, the champions of South Asia are the women of Bangladesh in women’s football. The current champions of the SAFF Women’s Football Championship have successfully retained their title. Along with the trophy, Rituporna Chakma was named the tournament’s best player, while Rupa Chakma was awarded the best goalkeeper-having won the same honor in the previous tournament.
However, Bangladesh missed out on the top scorer and fair play awards, which went to Bhutan. The dream campaign for the Bangladeshi women began with a victory over the historically successful team, India. After defeating Bhutan, they clinched the final victory against the host nation, Nepal, marking their second consecutive championship.
The final took place at Dasarath Stadium in Kathmandu, filled predominantly with Nepali supporters, while only a handful of Bangladeshis, including Sabina and Monika, were present. Yet, the resilience and determination of the Bangladeshi players overcame the home advantage of the Himalayan girls. In a fiercely competitive final, Bangladesh triumphed 2-1.
On September 19, 2022, at the same venue, Bangladesh had also defeated Nepal 3-1 to secure their first championship. This time, the key players were the Chakma sisters, with Monika scoring the first goal and Rituporna sealing the victory.
Despite being the most frequent finalists, Nepal has yet to win the championship, and once again faced disappointment at the hands of the Bangladeshi women. In a time when the sports scene in the country is marked by struggles, the women’s team has brought joy and pride to the nation.
The final match unfolded with excitement. Both teams failed to score in the first half, hitting the crossbar several times. The second half saw Bangladesh take the lead in the 52nd minute with a goal from Monika Chakma. However, Nepal equalized shortly after. In the 81st minute, Rituporna Chakma scored the winning goal, sending the entire Bangladeshi camp into celebration.
With the final whistle, players, coaches, and staff erupted in joy, and a few Bangladeshi supporters in the stands joined in the celebration, while viewers across Bangladesh cheered and danced in unison.
