They wanted recognition from a society resistant to women playing football. Coming from humble backgrounds and remote areas across the country, these girls trained in the protected boundaries of the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) headquarters day-in-day-out to prove a simple point: women are as good as men.

Bangladesh clinched their maiden SAFF Women’s Championship title with a 3-1 victory over Nepal in an entertaining final at the Dasarath Rangasala in Kathmandu on Monday.

Having posed with the shiny trophy at the Dasharath Stadium yesterday, just the day before the final of SAFF Women's Championship, Bangladesh captain Sabina Khatun smiled big after raising the trophy and the Nepal captain Anjila Thumbapo Subba did the same.

The team has advanced to the final for the second time in their history.

Captain Sabina Khatun, who played in a deeper role against India, slotted home a brilliant hattrick yesterday from her usual position as striker to guide Bangladesh to an emphatic 8-0 win over Bhutan in the semifinal of the SAFF Women’s Championship in Kathmandu.

Bangladesh women’s football team’s member Ritu Porna Chakma dedicated her wonderful goal against Pakistan on Saturday to her younger brother, who passed away from a tragic accident in June.