Tohura returns as Bangladesh shake up attack for SAFF football final against India

Tohura Khatun has been restored to Bangladesh’s starting XI for the SAFF Women’s Championship final against India, returning to the centre of the attack after featuring as a substitute in the last three games.

The final will be played at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa on Saturday at 7pm Bangladesh time.

Hosts India will be chasing their first title since 2019, while Bangladesh are aiming for a historic third consecutive championship.

Head Coach Peter James Butler has made two changes from the semi-final lineup.

Anika Rania Siddiqui, who had led the forward line for much of the tournament, will now operate in an attacking midfield role.

Tohura, Bangladesh’s most prolific scorer in their previous SAFF triumph with five goals, will spearhead the attack.

Swedish-based forward Anika scored within 11 seconds against the Maldives in the group stage but struggled to find the net in subsequent matches.

In the final, she leads the line ahead of Anika, who drops deeper to link play.

Shamsunnahar Jr returns to the starting XI, replacing Umehla Marma and Suravi Akanda Prity. She joins Ritu Porna Chakma on the wings, forming the primary attacking outlets down both flanks.

India have been defensively flawless in the tournament, yet to concede a goal while scoring 15.

Bangladesh have scored five and conceded six, edging Nepal 2–1 in the semi-final after a late own goal by Preeti Rai.

Tohura has played 94 minutes across her last three appearances, all from the bench -- featuring against the Maldives (59th minute), India (77th minute), and Nepal (40th minute).

She also carries a strong record against India, having scored twice in Bangladesh’s 3–1 group win in Kathmandu two years ago, and netted a hat-trick in a 7–1 semi-final rout of Bhutan during the same campaign.