Bangladeshi footballer Hamza named in initial squad for friendly matches against Nepal
Bangladesh Football Federation Pursues Leicester City for Hamza Choudhury's Release
Preparations for Bangladesh's upcoming friendly matches against Nepal in September are in full swing, with both teams using the fixtures as a warm-up for the Asian Cup qualifiers. The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has announced a 24-man preliminary squad for the September clashes, which includes the English midfielder, Hamza Choudhury, currently playing for Leicester City in the EFL Championship[1][4].
However, Hamza's availability for the matches is uncertain due to his club commitments. The BFF is actively pushing to secure his participation, with discussions regarding his release still ongoing under FIFA regulations[1][3][4][5]. A letter has been sent to Hamza's club, Leicester City, requesting his participation in the September match against Nepal.
The training camp for the matches against Nepal commenced today, with only five footballers present on the first day. National team captain Jamal Bhuyan was absent, having requested an extra day[2]. The coach called the camp for gym sessions and fitness work, as the team gears up for the challenging encounters ahead.
Unfortunately, Shamit Som will not be part of the squad for the September window due to club matches[2]. The Abahani players are expected to join the training camp on 14 August, with Bashundhara Kings players joining a day later on 15 August[2].
As of now, the final squad decisions have not been confirmed, with the national team coach yet to make the final call[1][3][4]. Nepal, currently ranked 176th in the FIFA rankings, will face a tough challenge against Bangladesh, who are ranked 184th[6].
The friendly matches against Nepal will take place on 6 and 9 September at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu[1]. With the BFF making concerted efforts to field Hamza Choudhury, the team is hopeful that they can secure a positive result in their quest to improve their standing in the Asian Cup qualifiers.
[1] - https://www.bangladeshfootball.com/news/hamza-choudhury-named-in-bangladesh-squad-for-nepal-matches-leicester-city-talks-ongoing [2] - https://www.thedailystar.net/sports/football/bangladesh-start-training-nepal-matches-1973264 [3] - https://www.espn.com/football/bangladesh-power-ranking/story/4562858/hamza-choudhury-to-join-bangladesh-for-nepal-matches-bff [4] - https://www.insidesport.co/hamza-choudhury-to-join-bangladesh-for-nepal-matches-bff-confirms/ [5] - https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/58144114 [6] - https://www.fifa.com/world-ranking/men/ranking-index/2022/07/01/index.html
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