History beacons Bangladesh U-20 men's football team as they face host Nepal in the final of the SAFF U-20 Championship scheduled to be held today at ANFA Complex, Lalitpur, Kathmandu in Nepal.
The match kicks off at 5.45 pm (BST).
Bangladesh, who finished as runners-up in 2017, 2019 and 2022 of the championship, are now just one step away 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, reports BSS.
The boys in red and green have so far shown a 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 to the final with an exciting 4-3 goal victory over mighty India in the 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 aim to win the trophy of the SAFF U-20 Championship for a third time after winning the trophy in the 2015 and 2017 editions.
They will also take to the field in the final with the 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 the group stage.
Nepal so far maintained all-win runs 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 in the final after defeating Bhutan by 4-1 in the penalty shootout 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.
