Bangladesh beat Gabon to reach FIFA Under-15 World Cup E Tier final

Bangladesh beat Gabon 1-0 in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Thursday, to reach the final of the E Tier at the FIFA Under-15 World Cup and Festival. Naimur Rahman Ratul scored the only goal, a header in the 14th minute at the Hovsan Competition Complex.

Bangladesh made the brighter start and created several chances in the opening 10 minutes without finding the net. Gabon threatened too, but the Bangladesh defence held firm and gave the visitors little room to turn those moments into a goal.

The breakthrough came when Bangladesh attacked down the right and unleashed a powerful long-range shot. The Gabon goalkeeper saved it, but the ball fell kindly and Ratul nodded in the rebound to put his side 1-0 ahead.

Four minutes later, Bangladesh almost doubled the lead. A player raced clear down the left in a one-on-one, with the goalkeeper off his line, but sent his effort wide. Bangladesh still went into the break ahead.

They continued to dominate after the restart, though coach Akbar Hossain Ridon’s side could not find a second. A good chance in the 33rd minute went begging, but Ratul’s goal proved enough to seal their place in the final.

It was Bangladesh’s fifth win in eight matches at the tournament. They began with a goalless draw against Wales, lost 3-1 to Portugal, drew 1-1 with Indonesia and lost 2-0 to Burundi, before beating Fiji 3-1 to finish the group stage.

The knockout rounds brought a turnaround. Bangladesh edged Seychelles 4-2 on penalties in the Round of 32 after a 1-1 draw, then beat Singapore 4-3 on penalties after another 1-1 draw, before winning 4-0 against Montenegro in the quarter-finals.

The E Tier title is not the same as the overall world championship, which will be decided in the Tier A competition. Even so, victory in the final would make Bangladesh champions at this level and place them 129th in the tournament’s overall standings.