Bangladesh’s hopes of advancing to the AFC U-17 Asian Cup ended in a heart-wrenching 3-2 loss to Afghanistan. Entering the game with a clear objective—victory for qualification—the team, led by Saiful Bari Titu, took a promising 2-1 lead by halftime.
The match began on a high note, with Mithu Chowdhury scoring in the sixth minute, giving Bangladesh an early advantage. Afghanistan fought back, leveling the score with Yasir Shafi’s stunning long-range goal. Just before halftime, Bangladesh regained the lead as Morshed Ali found the net off a corner from captain Faisal.
The second half, however, saw Afghanistan apply relentless pressure. Bangladesh’s defense held until the 64th minute when a defensive error allowed substitute Mohammad Milad Noori to equalize. Six minutes later, Arash Ahmadi put Afghanistan ahead with a decisive goal.
In the final minutes, Bangladesh pressed forward, desperately seeking an equalizer, but their efforts fell short. Despite their resilience and determination, Bangladesh exited the tournament with a 3-2 defeat, ending their journey in the AFC U-17 qualifiers.
