Nepal will confront Bangladesh today in the semifinals of the SAFF U-20 Championship currently underway in the Maldives. Nepal qualified as the winner of Group A, while Bangladesh advanced as the runner-up of Group B. Nepal experienced a semifinal defeat against Bangladesh in 2025 and is now aiming to claim the title this time. (Chaitra 18, Kathmandu)
The match will take place at the National Football Stadium in the Maldives, starting at 4:30 PM Nepal Time. Both teams remained unbeaten in the group stage. Nepal defeated Bhutan 2-1, Sri Lanka 1-0, and drew 1-1 with the Maldives. Meanwhile, Bangladesh secured a 3-0 win over Pakistan and drew 1-1 against India.
This marks the second consecutive semifinal encounter between Nepal and Bangladesh. In the 2025 championship held in India, Nepal lost to Bangladesh in the semifinals. Historically, Nepal has won the title twice in this age group, while Bangladesh has won once. However, in recent editions, Bangladesh has become a strong challenge for Nepal.
In the 2024 SAFF U-20 Championship hosted by Nepal, Bangladesh defeated Nepal in the final to claim the championship. Before departing for the Maldives, Nepal U-20 team head coach Urjan Shrestha identified Bangladesh alongside four-time champions India as the toughest competitors. The other semifinal between India and Bhutan is scheduled to be played tonight.
