By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Nov 22:Nepal has on Friday been drawn into the group ‘A’ alongside with Bangladesh and Bhutan in the men’s football of the 13th edition of SAG to be held in Kathmandu from December 1 to 14.
Defending champions Nepal will take on Bangladesh in the inaugural match and will then take on Bhutan on 5th December in their last match of the group stage.
Nepal’s under-23 side had won the gold medal in the men’s football in the 12th edition of the SAG held at India in 2016. Nepal had defeated India’s U-23 squad by 2-1 in the final in Guwahati.
A total of six teams will vie for the title after Pakistan pulled out of the tournament.
The draw was held at ANFA Complex Satdobato, Lalitpur. Similarly, India, Maldives and Sri Lanka were drawn into the group ‘B’.
The top two teams from the each group will advance to the semi-final. The title clash of the football will be held at the closing ceremony of the event at the main stadium, Dashrath Stadium, Tripureshwor, Kathmandu.
However, Nepali women’s football team will encounter Sri Lanka on its opening match of the SAG on 3rd December. A total of four teams is participating in the 13th SAG women’s football. Nepal will take on the Maldives on December 5 and they will meet India on December 7.
The women’s football will be conducted under the round robin format and the top two teams will vie for the gold medal in the final. According to the fixture issued by All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) on Friday, Host Nepal, India, the Maldives and Sri Lanka will participate in the women’s football.
India is the defending champions of the women’s football while Nepal is the silver medallist. India has so far won all gold medals in the SAG women’s football.
Bangladesh, Bhutan and Pakistan withdrew from the women’s football in the last minutes of the draw.