Nepal Advances to Semifinals as Group A Winner in SAFF U-20 Championship

Nepal has secured its spot in the semifinals of the ongoing SAFF U-20 Championship in the Maldives by finishing as the group winner. In the final group stage match, Nepal drew 1-1 against the Maldives. From Group B, India and Sri Lanka have already qualified for the semifinals, while Pakistan has been eliminated from the tournament.

In the final group match held in Male, Maldives, Nepal fought to a 1-1 draw against the hosts, clinching the top position in Group A and advancing to the semifinals. Nepal had already guaranteed its place in the next round with consecutive wins in its previous two games. The semifinal opponent for Nepal will be determined after the conclusion of Group B’s final match.

The match at the National Stadium in Male saw the Maldives open the scoring early, with Mohamed Imran netting in the 14th minute to give the home side the lead. However, Nepal’s Nishan Raj Lawat equalized late in the 86th minute, ensuring a draw. Nepal had earlier secured a 2-1 victory over Bhutan in their opening match and a 1-0 win against Sri Lanka in their second game.

After three matches in Group A, Nepal leads the group with 7 points. Sri Lanka sits second with 3 points from two matches. The Maldives have 2 points from three games and are eliminated from the tournament. Bhutan is in fourth place with 1 point from two matches. The final semifinal spot from Group A will be decided after the matchup between Sri Lanka and Bhutan. A draw will suffice for Sri Lanka to advance, while Bhutan must defeat Sri Lanka to qualify. From Group B, India and Sri Lanka have already secured semifinal berths, each having defeated Pakistan. With two losses, Pakistan has been eliminated from the competition.