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Bangladesh produced a dominant performance to defeat Sri Lanka 4-0 in their final Group A match of the SAFF Championship 2026 at the National Stadium in Dhaka on Wednesday, with captain Hamza Choudhury leading the way.
The victory ensured Bangladesh finished the group stage at the top of Group A, building momentum ahead of the semifinals.
Shamit Shome opened the scoring in the eighth minute, capitalising on a rebound after Sri Lankan goalkeeper Sujan Perera failed to hold Hamza’s cross.
Hamza doubled the advantage just before half-time, scoring in the 43rd minute after a superb individual effort. He dribbled past a Sri Lankan defender before unleashing a powerful shot that beat goalkeeper Sujan Perera.
Bangladesh continued their attacking display after the break, with Farhaan Ali Wahid scoring a brilliant third goal in the 53rd minute. The England-based forward showcased his individual skill by dribbling past several Sri Lankan defenders inside the penalty area before finding the net.
Rakib Hossain completed the 4-0 victory with a late goal in the 87th minute, sealing an emphatic result for the hosts.
The match marked Hamza’s first appearance as Bangladesh captain in the tournament. The Sheffield United midfielder returned to the starting XI alongside Farhaan after both players missed the opening match against Bhutan because it fell outside the FIFA international window. Prothomalo +3
Bangladesh had earlier opened their campaign with a 1-0 victory over Bhutan, courtesy of Mohammad Ibrahim’s second-half goal. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, drew 2-2 with Bhutan, leaving their semifinal hopes dependent on the final group fixture.
With the victory, Bangladesh finished their Group A campaign unbeaten and strengthened their hopes of ending a 23-year wait for the SAFF Championship title. They last won the regional competition in 2003.
The semifinals are scheduled for November 14.
