Last two- time runners-up Bangladesh will start their campaign in the five-nation SAFF U-20 Championship’2022 taking on Islander Sri Lanka in one of the two opening day’s fixture on Monday.
The match will kicks-off at 8 pm local time at the Kalinga Stadium in the Indian city of Bhubaneswar while two-time champions Nepal will play the Maldives in the opening match at 4 pm at the same venue.
Five South Asian nations – India, Nepal, Bangladesh, the Maldives and Sri Lanka– will take part in this year’s fourth edition of the regional soccer meet.
In the remaining matches, Bangladesh will play hosts India on July 27, the Maldives on July 29 and Nepal on August 2.
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After the league basis matches, top two teams will play in the final on August 5.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Under-20 Football team, now in the Indian city of Bhubaneshwar to participate in the SAFF Under-20 Championship, made their practice session on the 2nd consecutive day today.
Bangladesh team, which reached Bhubaneshwar Friday night made their first practices on Saturday to achieve their target of playing in the final.
Touring Bangladesh team made strength and conditioning, gym and pool session at the team hotel on Sunday morning and made their practices at the Capital Practice ground in the afternoon.
During the day’s practice session under the head coach Paul Smalley, Bangladesh worked on ball possession, attacking football and set pieces.
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The tournament was introduced in 2015 as U-19 competition. However, the tournament was later changed to SAFF U-18 Championship in 2017. But, this year it will be played as a U-20 Championship.
Nepal are the most successful nation in the meet winning the title twice while India lifted its first title in 2019 after beating two times runners-up Bangladesh.
All the matches of 2022 edition of SAFF U-20 will be played at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneshwar.
Fixture of the Tournament :
Nepal vs Maldives, July 25, 4:00 pm
Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh, July 25, 8:00 pm
Bangladesh vs India, July 27, 4:00 pm
Sri Lanka vs Nepal, July 27, 8:00 pm
India vs Sri Lanka, July 29, 4:00 pm
Maldives vs Bangladesh, July 29, 8:00 pm
Maldives vs Sri Lanka, July 31, 4:00 pm
Nepal vs India, July 31, 8:00 pm
Bangladesh vs Nepal, August 2, 4:00 pm
India vs Maldives, August 2, 8:00 pm
Source: United News of Bangladesh