Yupia: Bangladesh U-19 national football team is gearing up to face Bhutan in the crucial second and final group A match of the ongoing SAFF U-19 Championship at the Golden Jubilee Stadium in Arunachal Pradesh, India, tomorrow. The match is scheduled to be streamed live on the Sportzworkz YouTube channel at 4.30 pm Bangladesh time, followed by the group B encounter between Sri Lanka and Nepal at 8 pm.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Bangladesh enters this match needing a win to secure their advancement to the next round, following a 2-2 draw against Maldives in their opening group match. In that match, Bangladesh initially took a 2-0 lead with goals from captain Mazharul Huda Faysal and Md Rifat Kazi but were unable to maintain their advantage as the Maldives staged a comeback in the second half.
Meanwhile, host India sits comfortably atop group B after an emphatic 8-0 victory over Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan team faces a must-win situation against Nepal to stay in the championship contention. The top two teams from each group will advance to the cross semifinals, scheduled for May 16, with the tournament final slated for May 18, all at the same venue.
The Bangladesh U-19 squad includes players 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.