Group A runners-up Bangladesh will face their giant neighbour and Group-B champion India in the 2nd semifinal of the six-nation First South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Under-19 Championship at ANFA Complex, Saldobato in Lalitpur, Kathmandu today (Thursday).
The match will kick off at 3:30 pm local time.
Earlier in the first semifinal to be held on Thursday, Group A champion and host Nepal will meet Group-B runners-up Afghanistan at 12 noon at the same venue.
Addressing a pre-match press conference in Kathmandu on Wednesday, Bangladesh coach Saiful Bari Titu praised India terming them as the best team in the championship, according to GoalNepal.Com.
“India is the best team in the championship and they play total football and are very balanced side,” Titu added.
“We are very cautious against them…. India have players who can score goals, but we are now playing as a unit and our players are motivated for the match. They are ready to give everything against India,” the Bangladesh coach said.
Meanwhile, Indian coach Syed Sabir said they have full respect for Bangladesh. “Bangladesh deserve respect from all…. the country has very rich football culture, they proved their worth in the match against Nepal,” he said.
Earlier, Bangladesh managed a semifinal berth as the Group-A runners-up beating all-loser Bhutan by 2-0 goals in the first group match while they lost to hosts Nepal by 1-2 goals in the 2nd and last group match.
India smartly reached the semifinal as group champion with all win record beating Afghanistan by 2-0 goals in the first match and later defeated all-loser the Maldives by 3-0 goals in the 2nd and last group engagements.
Apart from three semifinalists-India, Bangladesh and Afghanistan — hosts Nepal also booked a seat for the last four stage as the unbeaten Group A champions defeating Bhutan in their first group match by 3-1 goals.
The final match will be held on August 29 at 3pm.
Meanwhile, the ANFA authority has increased the ticket prize for the semifinal and the final due to a huge demand. The ticket prize for the semifinal has been re-fixed at Rs 300 from 200 while ticket prize for final re-fixed at Rs 500 in place of Rs 300.
