Photo: Collected
Bangladesh national football team head coach Thomas Dooley has finalised a 28-member preliminary squad for the upcoming SAFF Championship, including English Premier League player Hamza Dewan Chowdhury along with expatriate footballers Shamit Shome, Jamal Bhuyan and Farhan Ali Wahid.
The squad blends experienced players, emerging talent and expatriate footballers. With the battle to become the best in South Asia ahead, Bangladesh have already begun their preparations.
Two more footballers, Md Ishaque Akanda and Md Asif, have been given the chance to join the training camp. However, they have not been included in the main 28-member preliminary squad.
Two expatriates, Mahi Khan and Ronan Sullivan, are the new faces in the 28-member squad announced for the SAFF. Topu, who missed the final squad for the ASEAN Cup due to injury, has returned to the team.
The SAFF Championship will be held at the National Stadium in Dhaka from 5 to 17 November.
Bangladesh preliminary squad: Mitul Marma, Sujon Hossain, Mehedi Hasan Srabon, Topu Barman, Bishwanath Ghosh, Md Saad Uddin, Rahmat Mia, Zidan Alexander Yousuf, Md Isa Faysal, Tariq Raihan Kazi, Zayyan Ahmed, Md Sohel Rana, Sohel Rana, Md Hridoy, Hamza Dewan Chowdhury, Shamit Shome, Syed Kazem Kirmani Shah, Jamal Bhuyan, Farhan Ali Wahid, Sheikh Morsalin, Rakib Hossain, Faysal Ahmed Fahim, Fahmidul Islam, Md Mahi Khan, Mohammad Ibrahim, Suki Itofusa, Minhajul Karim Shadhin, Ronan Benjamin Sullivan.
Training camp only: Ishaque Akanda and Md Asif.
Background
In the previous edition, in 2023, Bangladesh went out in the semi-final after losing 1-0 to Kuwait to a lone goal in extra time. In the final, held at Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on 4 July 2023, India beat Kuwait 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw following extra time to win the title, according to Wikipedia’s article on the 2023 SAFF Championship final.
Sources
Background source: Wikipedia: 2023 SAFF Championship final, accessed 24 October 2026
