Bangladesh Captain Says Tough to Face Malaysia

JAKARTA, 25 SEPTEMBER 2026 —

Bangladesh captain Jamal Bhuyan said on Thursday his side enters Friday's ASEAN Championship opener against Malaysia at Jakarta's Gelora Bung Karno Stadium aware of the difficulty but confident in their ability to compete, targeting three to four points from a group that also includes hosts Indonesia and Singapore.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Bhuyan acknowledged Bangladesh carries the lowest FIFA ranking among the four Group A nations — behind Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore — but said the squad has its own objectives and carries the hopes of a nation of nearly 180 million people. "We know we are the team with the lowest ranking in the group, together with Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and then us.

But we have our own targets and also carry the hopes of the country," he said.

"We know it will be difficult, but we believe in ourselves and have confidence in the team," Bhuyan said. "We want to compete and play in a good match. As the coach said, this championship is like a preparation championship for us because in a month's time we will face another championship which is our main target." He added: "However, certainly as a team, we want to compete.

If we can get some points, maybe one or two wins, it will make this championship very successful for us."

The 36-year-old midfielder, who is approaching 100 international appearances, spoke of a life-threatening incident in his youth when he was shot four times near his school in Copenhagen, leaving him in a coma for three days and requiring months of hospital recovery.

He said each opportunity to represent Bangladesh now feels special, and he remains conscious of the heavy responsibility of playing for a country of almost 180 million people, intending to continue serving the national team for as long as he is able.

Bhuyan also articulated a long-term ambition to see Bangladesh reach the FIFA World Cup, calling it the biggest stage in the world. "We all have a dream to see our own country play in the World Cup because it is the biggest stage in the world. We need to do more work to develop a better league and maybe have more players playing abroad to reach that level, but that dream remains," he said.

He believes World Cup qualification would trigger extraordinary celebrations among Bangladeshis, citing the enthusiasm they already show for the tournament.

After Friday's opener against Malaysia, Bangladesh — known as the Red and Green Brigade — face Singapore on September 28 at the same venue and time, before concluding their group campaign against hosts Indonesia on October 1.

The team's immediate focus remains on the Malaysia match, with Bhuyan's comments underscoring a blend of realism about their underdog status and determination to exceed expectations in a tournament they view as both a test and a stepping stone.

Related: Gelora Bung Karno Stadium · Jamal Bhuyan · Jakarta