Kathmandu.
The SAFF U-20 Men’s Championship is starting today in Bhubaneswar, India. Nepal is facing Maldives in the opening match of the tournament. The match will start today at Kalinga Stadium from 4 pm Nepali time.
Nepal and Maldives are facing each other for the second time in SAFF U-20. In the previous two meetings, one match was won by Nepal and the other match ended in a draw. India, Maldives and Bangladesh are participating in the tournament which will last till August 5, along with Nepal and Maldives.
History of SAFF U-20?
Although it is going to be organized for the first time under the name SAFF U-20, this tournament was started in 2015. The tournament, which started in 2015 under the name of SAFF U-19, was transformed into SAFF U-20 when it reached its fourth edition. In 2017 and 2019 it was organized under the name SAFF U-18. As three editions have been completed so far, Nepal has won two titles and India has won one title.
This is the performance of SAFF U-20 Nepal and Maldives.
In the year 2015, Nepal won the title of the first edition of this tournament, which was organized in the name of SAFF U-19. He won the title by defeating India 5-4 in the penalty shootout in the final. After defeating Bhutan 3-1 and Bangladesh 2-1 in the group stage, Nepal defeated Afghanistan 3-2 in the semi-finals.
In 2018, this tournament was organized in Bhutan under the name of SAFF U-18. Nepal became the winner this time and managed to defend the title. In the tournament conducted on the basis of single round robin, Nepal defeated Maldives and India 2-0 and Bangladesh 2-1, but lost 1-0 to Bhutan. Despite having the same 9 points with Bangladesh, Nepal became the winner by remaining at the top position on the basis of “head to head”.
In the year 2019, this tournament was also organized under the name of SAFF U-18. India won the title of this edition held in Nepal. India won the title by defeating Bangladesh 2-1 in the final. Nepal, the winner of the previous two editions, could not pass the group stage at home.
In the year 2019, this tournament was also organized under the name of SAFF U-18. India won the title of this edition held in Nepal. India won the title by defeating Bangladesh 2-1 in the final. Nepal, the winner of the previous two editions, could not pass the group stage at home.
In the second edition of the single-round round-robin tournament, Maldives came out last without a win. Maldives lost 1-0 to Bhutan, tied 2-0 to Nepal and Bangladesh and 2-1 to India. Maldives, who were winless in the previous two editions, won the third place in the third edition.
Maldives, who reached the semi-finals as runners-up of Group A after playing a goalless draw with Bhutan and Nepal, failed to make it to the final after losing 4-0 to India. Maldives defeated Bhutan 1-0 in the third place match.
