The Extraordinary ‘Firsts’ of Sabina in Women’s Football

That familiar smile, those trademark goals, the raised arms in celebration—there is no difference between Sabina of football and Sabina of futsal. In the 2022 SAFF Women’s Football Championship, she scored one goal after another, leading Bangladesh to glory. Four years later, she has replicated that magic on the futsal court. Despite the differences in field size, rules, and number of players between football and futsal, Sabina remains unwavering in her style and leadership.

The Satkhira-born forward continues to deliver goals consistently, wearing the captain’s armband and guiding her team with the same determination. Yesterday, Bangladesh clinched the inaugural SAFF Women’s Futsal Championship, defeating the Maldives 14–2 in the final.

Sabina’s name is synonymous with ‘firsts’ in Bangladeshi women’s football. Her record includes two SAFF titles and two bronze medals at the South Asian Games (SA). She has been pivotal in every landmark achievement. For instance, in 2022, Bangladesh’s women won their first SAFF football title in Nepal, with Sabina scoring eight goals and claiming both the top scorer and player of the tournament awards.

She was also instrumental in Bangladesh winning its first-ever South Asian Games medal in 2010, scoring decisive goals against Pakistan at the Dhaka Stadium. That same year, she played in Bangladesh’s first international women’s football match against Nepal.

Despite her contributions, Sabina has been absent from the national team since October 2024 following a dispute with coach Peter Butler, reportedly due to fitness and performance criteria. Yet, she has remained active, playing in the Bhutan Football League and later trialling successfully for the national futsal team. In the recent SAFF Women’s Futsal Championship, she finished as the top scorer with 14 goals.

Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) president Tabith Awal praised Sabina, stating, “As the only Bangladeshi athlete to lead teams to championships in two different formats—football and futsal—Sabina fills us with pride.”

In the post-final celebrations at Bangkok’s Nonthaburi Stadium, Sabina’s leadership was evident again. After collecting the trophy and medals from SAFF president Kazi Salahuddin, she ensured each teammate received their recognition before finally holding the trophy herself.

The following table highlights Sabina’s key milestones:

From her international debut in 2010 to leading Bangladesh to its first SAFF futsal title in 2026, Sabina continues to script history, embodying resilience, skill, and leadership across both football and futsal.