Sapna Rani

Sapna Rani
স্বপ্না রানী
Personal information
Date of birth (2006-05-09) 9 May 2006
Place of birth Thakurgaon, Bangladesh
Height 1.52 m (5 ft 0 in)[1]
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Rajshahi Stars
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020 Nasrin Sporting Club 12 (14)
2021–2024 ARB College SC 33 (23)
2025 Royal Thimphu College 4 (1)
2025– Rajshahi Stars 9 (2)
International career
2019 Bangladesh U17
2022– Bangladesh U20 23 (3)
2022– Bangladesh 26 (1)
Medal record
Women's football
Representing  Bangladesh
SAFF Women's Championship
Winner 2024 Nepal
SAFF U-18 Women's Championship
Winner 2025 Bangladesh
Winner 2024 Bangladesh
Winner 2023 Bangladesh
Runner-up 2022 India
SAFF U-15 Women's Championship
Runner-up 2019 Bhutan
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 4 March 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of 6 March 2026

Sapna Rani (born May 9, 2006; Bengali: স্বপ্না রানী) is a Bangladeshi professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for the Bangladesh women's national football team and Rajshahi Stars.[2][3]

Early life

Sapna Rani was born in the village of Rangatungi in Thakurgaon, Bangladesh. She comes from the village of Shiyaldangi in Ranisankail Upazila of the district.[4]

She began her football career at the Rangatungi United Football Academy, an institution known for developing several female players who have gone on to represent the national team.[5][6][7]

Club career

ARB College Sporting Club

Sapna played for ARB College Sporting Club in the Bangladesh Women’s Football League since the club’s formation in 2021. During the 2020-21 season of the Bangladesh Women's Football League, her club, ARB College Sporting Club, finished as the runner-up.[8]

Royal Thimphu College

In 2025, Sapna joined Bhutan Women's National League club Royal Thimphu College.[9] She scored a goal for the club in the 2025–26 AFC Women's Champions League.[10][11]

Rajshahi Stars

Sapna joined Rajshahi Stars FC for the 2025–26 Bangladesh Women's Football League. She scored a goal for the club in her debut match.[12][13][14]

International career

In 2019, Sapna Rani received her first call-up to the Bangladesh U-17 national team. Later, in March 2022, she played in the 2018 SAFF U-18 Women's Championship held in India, where Bangladesh finished as runners-up.[15][16]

She was part of the Bangladesh squad for the 2022 SAFF Women's Championship held in Nepal. During the tournament, Bangladesh achieved a historic 3–0 victory over India in the group stage, their first-ever win against India in senior women's football. Bangladesh ultimately won the 2022 SAFF title, defeating Nepal in the final.[17]

In the 2024 SAFF U-19 Women's Championship, Sapna featured for Bangladesh in a 1–1 draw against India in the final, with the match proceeding to a penalty shootout. After all 11 players from both sides converted their penalties, officials controversially attempted to decide the winner by a coin toss, initially favoring India. Following protests and review of the tournament rules, which had no provision for such a method, both teams were declared joint champions.[18]

In October 2024, Sapna Rani was named in the Bangladesh squad for the 2024 SAFF Women’s Championship, where the team retained their title with a 2–1 victory over Nepal in the final.[19][20]

Bangladesh qualified for the AFC Women's Asian Cup for the first time in history by finishing top of Group C in the qualifiers. The team secured dominant victories over Bahrain (7–0), Myanmar (2–1), and Turkmenistan (7–0), collecting all nine points from three matches. Their historic qualification was confirmed following a 2–2 draw between Bahrain and Turkmenistan. In the final match, Sapna contributed to the win by scoring one of Bangladesh’s seven goals against Turkmenistan.[21]

Career statistics

International

As of match played 5 July 2025
Scores and results list Bangladesh's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Sapna Rani goal.
List of international goals scored by Sapna Rani
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 5 July 2025 Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon, Myanmar  Turkmenistan 1–0 7–0 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification

Personal life

In addition to football, Sapna has also played cricket and has represented Rangatungi School in Thakurgaon as a wicketkeeper-batter.[16]

Honours

RTC

Bangladesh U20

References

  1. ^ "2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup Squad Lists" (PDF). Asian Football Confederation. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  2. ^ "Sapna Rani: this one's a keeper". The Daily Star. 2025-07-19. Retrieved 2026-01-04.
  3. ^ Rahman, Anisur (2025-08-14). "Steadfast Sapna 'can't imagine leaving football'". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2026-01-04.
  4. ^ "সাফজয়ী ঠাকুরগাঁওয়ের গর্বিত তিন ফুটবলার স্বপ্না, কোয়াতি, সাগরিকা". Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (in Bengali). 2025-12-31. Retrieved 2026-01-04.
  5. ^ খান, মজিবর রহমান (2024-02-14). "রাঙ্গাটুঙ্গির স্বপ্না-সাগরিকারা এখন সারা দেশের গর্ব". kishor.alo (in Bengali). Retrieved 2025-07-07.
  6. ^ "রাঙ্গাটুঙ্গী থেকে এশিয়ার মঞ্চে". Bangla Stream (in Bengali). 2025-07-05. Retrieved 2026-01-04.
  7. ^ Hoque, Shishir (2025-12-22). "Like a revolt near distant border". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 2026-01-04.
  8. ^ "ARB College off to winning start". The Daily Star. 2022-11-15. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
  9. ^ "Afeida, Sapna and Shaheda to feature in Champions League for Bhutan's RTC". Daily Sun.
  10. ^ "PS - Group D: Master FC (LAO) 0-5 RTC FC (BHU)". AFC Women's Champions League. Asian Football Confederation. 31 August 2025. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  11. ^ ঢাকা পোস্ট (2025-08-31). "স্বপ্না রাণীর গোল, জয়ে চ্যাম্পিয়ন্স লিগ শেষ আফিদাদের". Dhaka Post (in Bengali). Retrieved 2026-01-04.
  12. ^ "দিপা-রিপা আর প্রীতির ঝলকে রাজশাহী স্টার্সের দুর্দান্ত জয়". Jagonews24 (in Bengali). 3 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  13. ^ "নাসরিন একাডেমিকে গোলবন্যায় ভাসালো রাজশাহী স্টারস". Somoy News. 3 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  14. ^ "কমলাপুরে মৃদু আলোয় উজ্জ্বল রাজশাহী স্টার্স". T Sports (in Bengali). 2026-01-03. Retrieved 2026-01-04.
  15. ^ "Nepal fall to Bangladesh, finish third in the SAFF U-18 Women's Championship 2022". www.the-aiff.com. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
  16. ^ a b বদিউজ্জামান (2022-10-03). "স্বপ্না রানী". Prothomalo (in Bengali). Retrieved 2025-07-07.
  17. ^ "News Details". saffederation.org. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
  18. ^ "Bangladesh and India declared joint champions". The Daily Star. 2024-02-08. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
  19. ^ "BFF announce SAFF Women's Championship 2024 squad". daily-sun. 10 October 2024. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
  20. ^ "Bangladesh retains SAFF Women's Championship title". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
  21. ^ "Bangladesh beat Turkmenistan". Prothomalo. 2025-07-05. Retrieved 2025-07-07.