DHAKA, May 15, 2025 (BSS)- Defending champions Bangladesh take on Nepal in the first semifinal of the SAFF U-19 Championship scheduled to be held at Yupia-based Golden Jubilee Stadium in Arunachal Pradesh state, India tomorrow (Friday).

The match kicks off at 4 pm, which is followed by the second semifinal clash between host India and Maldives that begins at 8.30 pm at the same venue.

Bangladesh have played good brand of football so far and emerged as group A top of the competition.

The Bengal Tigers played out to a 2-2 with Maldives in their opening group match but they blanked Bhutan 3-0 in the second match to emerge as group A champions.

Nepal booked a seat for last four stage as Group B runners-up securing three points from two matches outplaying all losers Sri Lanka by 5-0 goals apart from their 0-4 goals loss against tournament favorite India.

Bangladesh team head coach Golam Robbani Choton said by the grace of Almighty we have successfully reached in the group stage. The boys have recovered well and they are fully prepared for the semifinal, he said through a video message. 

“We made the proper use most of the time we had after the group stage. We worked of weak and strong points of Nepal in the training session … we also worked on the weaknesses we had, said Choton.” 

He categorically admitted that Nepal is a strong side but at the same time the coach also considering his own team as strong for the semifinal.

The Bangladesh coach thinks that the match is going to be a competitive one and boys would go to the field to win the match.
 
Meanwhile, Bangladesh team has completed their final training session this afternoon ahead of the highly anticipated semi-final clash against Nepal held at the NERIST Ground, Nirjuli.

The boys looked sharp, focused, and united as they wrapped up their on-field preparations.

Bangladesh U-19 squad: Ismail Hossain Mahin, Nahidul Islam, Raj Chowdury, Ashikur Rahman, Mithu Chowdhury, Sifat Sahariar, Abdul Riyad Fahim, Salah Uddin Sahed, Delwar, Sani Das, Abdul Kadir, Kamal Merdha, Nazmul Huda Faysal, Siam Omit, Ratul Hasan, Farzad Syed Aftab, Samuel Raksam, Mursed Ali, Joy Ahamed, Sree Sumon Soren, Manik, Rifat Kazi and Ashik.