Ibrahim reveals why he cried after scoring against Bhutan

Bangladesh forward Mohammad Ibrahim has revealed that memories of difficult times in his career and his struggle to secure regular opportunities in the national team brought him to tears after scoring the winning goal against Bhutan in the SAFF Championship.

Ibrahim came on as a substitute and scored in the 69th minute to give Bangladesh a 1-0 victory over Bhutan at the National Stadium on Thursday.

Speaking after Friday’s training session at ABG Sports City, the 29-year-old said he remembered the difficult periods when he was repeatedly included in and left out of the national squad, often without getting the chance to play.

“After scoring, those difficult moments came back to my mind. I remembered the hard times I had gone through in life,” Ibrahim said.

He also explained how he had prepared himself while waiting on the bench. As Bangladesh struggled to convert several chances, he watched the movements inside the penalty area and considered how he could make the most of an opportunity.

“I thought that if I got into that position, I might receive one or two balls. If I could finish properly, then, by Allah’s grace, I could score,” he said.

Asked whether he was ready to play as a centre-forward if the coach wanted him in the number nine position, Ibrahim said he was willing to play wherever the team needed him.

“Of course. If I get an opportunity as a centre-forward, I will always try my best. I am ready to play in any position,” he said.

Ibrahim returned to the national team after missing out on the squad for the ASEAN Cup and performing well for his club.

He now hopes to help Bangladesh secure another victory against Sri Lanka in their second match on 11 November. He said the team’s focus was on winning, regardless of the opposition.