Bangladesh lined up in the Group B along with the top favourites India and Sri Lanka in the SAFF Under-18 Football Championship. The draw ceremony of the tournament was held yesterday at the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) with the general secretary of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Anwarul Haque Helal and the general secretary of the BFF Abu Nayeem Shohag was present.

The Group B was drawn with the team Bhutan, Maldives, Pakistan and the hosts Nepal while the tournament will be held at the Arm Police Force Stadium, Hulchuk, in Nepal from September 20-29. Bangladesh will begin their campaign from September 21 with taking on Sri Lanka when the hosts Nepal and the reigning champions will take on Maldives in their opening match on September 22.

Meanwhile, the SAFF Under-15 (boys) Football Championship will begin from the third week of August in Indian when Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and India will take part in the tournament in round robin league basis. The tournament will be held in August 21-31 at the Kalyani Stadium, India.

The top two teams of the points table will play the final on August 31 when Nepal and India will play the opening match followed by Sri Lanka and Bhutan match on August 21. Bangladesh the defending champion will begin their campaign with taking on August 23 with taking Bhutan.  

The schedule of the SAFF Under-15 Women’s Football Championship was also announced yesterday when the tournament will be held in October in Bhutan. This time four teams will participate in the tournament will take place at the Changlimithan Stadium, Bhutan from October 9-15.

Bangladesh, who won the inaugural edition of the women’s trophy in 2017 defeating India by a solitary goal at home ground, lost the trophy to India conceding same margin defeat at Changlitha Stadium in Bhutan.    

However, Bangladesh, the reigning runners up will play their opening match with taking on Bhutan on October 9 when India and earlier Nepal will vie in the opening match of the tournament, on same day.

The SAFF secretary Anwarul Haque Helal said that this time four women’s team are taking part in the tournament as Sri Lanka withdrew their name at the last moment, Pakistan are not in a position to field their women team when Maldives team also are not prepared to play in the women tournament.