Photo: Collected
History beacons Bangladesh U-20 men's football team as they face host Nepal in the final of SAFF U-20 Championship scheduled to be held tomorrow on Wednesday (27 August)at ANFA Complex, Lalitpur, Kathmandu in Nepal.
The match kicks off at 5.45 pm (BST).
Bangladesh, who finished at runners-up in 2017, 2019 and 2022 of the championship, are now just one step far from the coveted SAFF title. If the Maruful Haque men are able to beat Nepal in the final match, then they will taste the title for the first time in the history of SAFF U-20 Championship football.
The boys in red and green have so far shown good brand of football. Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka by 2-0 in their group opening match, but lost to Nepal by 2-1 goals in their second match to finish group runners-up.
The Maruful Haque men got the ticket of final with an exciting 4-3 goals victory over mighty India in penalty shoot out in the second semifinal match.
Bangladesh's great victory in the semi-final came in the hand of substitute custodian Mohammed Asif, who was superb under the bar saving two crucial goals in the penalty shootout taking Bangladesh to the final.
On the other hand, Nepal must be aiming to win the trophy of the SAFF U-20 Championship for a third time after winning the trophy in 2015 and 2017 edition.
They will also take to the field in the final with upper hand as they will fully utilize their home ground advantage against Bangladesh.
The hosts have failed to progress past the group stage only once-in 2019 at home when they finished below Bhutan and the Maldives in group stage.
Nepal so far maintained all win run in the tournament. They beat Sri Lanka and Bangladesh by 1-0 and 2-1 goals respectively in the group matches and confirmed their spot of final after defeating Bhutan by 4-1 in penalty shoot out in the first semifinal.
Bangladesh U-20 team - Mehedi Hasan Srabon, Asif, Ismail Hossain Mahin, Imran Khan, Mohammad Azizul Hoque, Ananto, Shakil Ahad Topu, Rajib Hossain, Rostom Islam Dukhu Mia, Parvej Ahmed, Kamacai Marma Aky, Asadul Islam Sakib, Chandon Roy, Ashraful Haque Asif, Mohsin Ahmed, Iftiar Hossain, Rabby Hossen Rahul, Razu Ahmed Zisan, Hossain Mohammad Arian, Asadul Molla, Iftasam Rahman Jidan, Mirajul Islam, Piash Ahmmed Nova and Moinul Islam Moin
Messenger/Sourov
