The Bangladesh national football team played a closed-door practice match against Fortis FC on Friday at the Bashundhara Kings Arena, marking a crucial step in their preparations for the upcoming FIFA international window.

The match featured the 15 players who have been in camp since October 30, ahead of Bangladesh’s AFC Asian Cup qualifier against India on November 18.

No media personnel were allowed to attend the fixture, and the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) did not disclose the result. However, national team head coach Javier Cabrera expressed satisfaction with the session, calling it “a good challenge” and “a useful step” toward their twin assignments against Nepal and India.

“It’s been a good practice match, a good challenge today against Fortis, who did a very good job,” Cabrera said in a video message shared by the BFF. “The objective was there — starting to try a little bit the plan against the next two important matches that we have against Nepal and India. We take good, positive things from this practice match. Also, the players were a little bit heavy, so it was good to have this match today before the recovery day on Saturday.”

Friday also marked a significant boost for Cabrera’s squad, as ten Bashundhara Kings players joined the camp after completing their AFC Challenge League duties in Kuwait.

“Friday evening already saw the arrival of the Bashundhara Kings players,” Cabrera noted.

“While the rest of the group will have Saturday off, the Bashundhara players will have a gym session at the hotel.”