KATHMANDU, Sept 29: India and Bangladesh will be vying for their first title when they take on each other in the final of the SAFF U-18 Championship in Kathmandu on Sunday.
Both the teams have a chance of creating history in the age level tournament at the Armed Police Force (APF) Club’s Halchowk Stadium. As the defending champion Nepal got knocked out of the group stages, it was fixed that the tournament will get a new winner coming into the final of the third edition.
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Both the teams advanced into the final beating their respective opponents 4-0, and are looking to take charge of the game and win their first title.
In a pre-match press conference held in Kathmandu on Saturday, captains of both the teams expressed their excitement to lift the title for the first time.
India’s first choice goalkeeper and captain Prabhsu Man Singh will not play in the final as he sustained an injury in the first group stage match, while Jitendra Singh will captain the side in the game.
India defeated Sri Lanka 3-0 in the second group stage match after playing a 0-0 draw against Bangladesh. It defeated the Maldives 4-0. With that, India is high on confidence and believes it can win the title. Likewise, Bangladesh defeated Sri Lanka 3-0 in the group stage and reached the final beating Bhutan 4-0 in the semifinals.
Bangladesh wants to create the same momentum and follow the rhythm of its previous games. Bhutan and the Maldives will take on each other, before the final match on Sunday.
