The All India Football Federation (AIFF) confirmed on Wednesday that India will face Bangladesh in an international friendly on March 5 at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, Goa.
It will be the senior team’s first match of 2014 and they will be up against a side that is placed eight spots below at 164 in the FIFA Rankings.
The last time these two sides met was at last year’s SAFF Championship in Nepal. The match ended 1-1 with India captain Sunil Chhetri netting the equaliser in the stoppage time from a free-kick.
India have played five international friendlies under Wim Koevermans previously and their only victory came against Nepal in Siliguri last year as they won 2-0 thanks to goals from Sunil and Clifford Miranda.
The Dutch coach has always stressed on utilising the FIFA match dates and the AIFF have capitalised on the very first date of 2014 by arranging this match with neighbours Bangladesh.
Goa’s Nehru Stadium will be hosting a senior international match for the first time since November 2011 when Zambia thumped India 5-0.