Bangladesh’s Dominance in Women’s Football, Wins SAFF Championship for the Second Time After 2022, Bangladesh won the SAFF Championship again in 2024.
The Bangladesh women’s team claimed the SAFF Championship title, defeating Nepal 2-1 to bring home the trophy for the second time. Two years ago, they had won their first SAFF Championship by beating Nepal, and this time, they successfully defended the title. For the first time in Bangladesh’s sports history, a team has won a multi-nation tournament back-to-back.
Bangladesh scored their first goal after halftime. Monika Chakma scored with a precise placement from inside the box, silencing Nepal’s supporters. But Nepal didn’t have to wait long to equalize; in the 53rd minute, Amisha Karki tricked Bangladesh’s defense to score a goal.
At one point, it seemed the match might go into extra time, but in the 81st minute, Rituparna Chakma scored to put Bangladesh ahead again. Nepal tried to attack afterward, with their supporters cheering them on, but the Bangladeshi women remained unfazed.
Bangladesh’s Journey in the SAFF Championship
In their first match, Bangladesh drew with Pakistan. They then defeated India 3-1 and beat Bhutan 7-1 in the semifinals. This strong performance led to the belief that the final would belong to Bangladesh’s women—and it did.
Although Nepal lost, their performance impressed many. The key difference was Bangladesh’s ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities. Sabina and her teammates made the most of these chances, which led to their victory. Nepal has now played in six SAFF Championship finals but has yet to secure a title.
