Bangladesh Hopeful About Ronan, Mahe Ahead of SAFF Championship
The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has announced a 28-member preliminary squad for the 2026 SAFF Championship, including US-based forward Ronan Sullivan. After impressive performances at the age-group level, he is now waiting for an opportunity to make his senior national team debut. The SAFF Championship will be held in Dhaka from November 5 to 17.
Mr. Ronan represented Bangladesh at the SAFF U-20 Championship in the Maldives in April and played an important role in the team’s title-winning campaign. He scored twice against Pakistan and also contributed to Bangladesh’s victory over India in the final. His performances have earned him a place in the preliminary senior squad.
Alongside Mr. Ronan, England-based forward Mohammed Mahe Khan has also been included in the squad. The 18-year-old represented Bangladesh in the qualifying round of the AFC U-20 Asian Cup in Uzbekistan earlier this year. Mr. Mahe has scored nine goals in seven matches for lower-league English club Moulton FC this season.
The inclusion of Mr. Ronan and Mr. Mahe is expected to strengthen Bangladesh’s attack. After a difficult campaign in the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup last month, head coach Thomas Dooley is looking to develop more attacking options.
Three other expatriate players who made their senior international debuts for Bangladesh at the FIFA ASEAN Cup in September have retained their places in the preliminary squad. They are England-based winger Farhan Ali Wahid, Japan-based forward Shuki Itafusa and London-born defender Zidan Alexander Yusuf.
Mr. Farhan, who plays for Boreham Wood on loan from Mr. Fulham’s youth system, made his Bangladesh debut against Malaysia on September 25. Mr. Shuki came on as a second-half substitute in the same match. Mr. Zidan made his first senior international appearance in Bangladesh’s 3-0 defeat in Jakarta.
Bangladesh have been placed in Group A alongside Bhutan and Sri Lanka. Defending champions India, Pakistan and the Maldives are in Group B. Nepal will miss the tournament because of a FIFA suspension. Bangladesh will begin their campaign against Bhutan at the National Stadium in Dhaka on November 5.
The SAFF Championship was last held in Bangladesh in 2018. Bangladesh won their only SAFF title in 2003, and 23 years have passed since then. The hosts will hope to end that long wait by making the most of home advantage.
The 28-member preliminary squad consists of Mitul Marma, Sujon Hossain, Mehedi Hasan Srabon, Topu Barman, Bishwanath Ghosh, Mohammad Saad Uddin, Mohammad Rahmat Mia, Zidan Alexander Yusuf, Mohammad Eesa Faisal, Tariq Raihan Kazi, Zayan Ahmed, Mohammad Sohel Rana, Sohel Rana, Mohammad Hridoy, Hamza Choudhury, Shamit Shome, Syed Kazem Kermani Shah, Jamal Bhuiyan, Faisal Ahmed Fahim, Fahamedul Islam, Minhajul Karim Shadin, Mohammad Ibrahim, Shuki Itafusa, Farhan Ali Wahid, Sheikh Morsalin, Rakib Hossain, Ronan Sullivan and Mohammed Mahe Khan.
