Nepal looks for redemption against India in SAFF U-17 semifinal today

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Sept. 28: In 2022, India shattered Nepal’s dream to lift the SAFF U-17 Championship; India defeated Nepal by 4-0 in the final played in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on September 14. Nepal was also defeated by India in the Championship’s group stage by 3-1 on September 9, 2022.

Nepal was not in the same group of SAFF U17 with India this year. Meanwhile, the two teams are coming to compete against one another on September 28 (today).

India and Nepal, as the Group A topper and Group B runner-up respectively, are playing in the first semi-final match of the day. The second semi-final will be played between Group B topper Pakistan and Group A runner-up Bangladesh.

India has often been the favourite when facing Nepal in any age category of football. Thus, Nepal’s U17 side, the most promising squad of Nepal currently, has the chance to defeat India and enter the final to compete for the U17 Cup.

Nepal was also defeated by India in the finals of the SAFF U15 Championships in 2017 and 2019. Similarly, India had also restricted Nepal from lifting the trophy of the SAFF U-16 Championship in 2013.

The Nepali youngsters have already shown their fighting mentality in the championship. The 2-1 comeback win from tailing 1-0 against Bhutan, on their home ground and in front of a loud crowd, clarified that the head coach Sanoj Shrestha-led team was eying the Cup. 

And in the journey to lift the trophy, Nepal will have to defeat India in the semis. 

Race for top scorers Nepal’s Sujan Dangol is in first place as the highest scorer of the tournament. Dangol, with a hattrick against Sri Lanka and one against Bhutan, has four goals under his belt in three matches.

He is followed by Subhan Kareem of Pakistan (3 goals). There are only three players to have scored two goals each – Thinley Yezer and Tandin Phuntsho of Bhutan and Mohammad Talah of Pakistan.

There were altogether 24 scorers in the group stages. Of them, Joshua Preston Vanvelzon of Sri Lanka was the only player to score an own goal while facing Pakistan.