Dhaka: Defending champions Bangladesh will take on Sri Lanka in one of the opening matches of the 6th edition of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) U-20 Women’s Championship 2025. The tournament is set to begin tomorrow at the Bashundhara Kings Arena in the capital.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will kick off at 3 pm, to be followed by another match featuring Nepal and Bhutan at 7 pm at the same venue. The championship will witness the participation of four South Asian nations: Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and host Bangladesh. The 11-day event will be conducted on a round-robin league basis, organized by SAFF under the auspices of the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF).
Returning from Myanmar after qualifying for the Asian Cup final stage, the Bangladeshi team is eager to continue their winning momentum and retain the title they jointly won with India in 2023. India’s withdrawal from the tournament has not only changed the format but has also enhanced Bangladesh’s chances of retaining the crown. Bangladesh is the most successful team in the history of the tournament, having won four out of their five appearances.
In this edition, the tournament format has been slightly altered, with each team playing against the other, and the team with the highest points at the end being declared the champion. Bangladesh’s schedule includes matches against Nepal on July 13, Bhutan on July 15 and 17, Sri Lanka again on July 19, and Nepal once more on July 21.
The Bangladesh squad for the tournament includes players such as Swarna Rani Mandal, Nabiran Khatun, Mst Joynob Bibi Rita, and captain Afeida Khandaker, among others. This team will be looking to leverage their experience and skill to secure the championship title once again.