The Bangladesh Under-17 national football team will commence their SAFF U-17 Championship campaign this evening when they face Nepal in their opening group-stage encounter at the Racecourse Ground in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The much-anticipated clash kicks off at 7:30 pm Bangladesh Standard Time.

On Wednesday, a day prior to the match, Bangladesh team captain Nazmul Huda Faisal acknowledged that Nepal have always been a formidable opponent. However, he emphasised that his side is determined to give their utmost effort on the field. Faisal further noted his satisfaction with the squad’s preparation over the four recent training sessions held in Colombo.

Nepal enter the match with significant momentum, having already secured a 2-0 victory against hosts Sri Lanka in their opening game. Another win today would place them firmly at the top of the group standings, piling additional pressure on Bangladesh.

The SAFF U-17 Championship brings together seven South Asian nations, divided into two groups:

• Semi-finals: The top two teams from each group will progress to the cross semi-finals scheduled for 25 September.
• Final: The championship decider will be played on 27 September.
• Bangladesh’s Fixtures: After facing Nepal today, Bangladesh will take on hosts Sri Lanka on 21 September in their final group-stage match.

The 23-member Bangladesh U-17 squad features a blend of promising young talents across positions:

• Goalkeepers: Alif Rahman Imtiaz, Tasin Saheb
• Defenders: Chandro Saha, Ikramul Islam, Azam Khan, Md Raj, Sabbir Islam, Shadat Hossain
• Midfielders: Tarek Hossain, Ishan Habib Riduan, Kamal Merdha, Md Manik, Rifat Kazi, Ashik, Opu Rahman
• Forwards: Ruhul Amin Akash, Akash Ahmed, Mohin Ahmmed, Md Arif, Bayzit Bostami, Mahin Miah Sojib, Akash Ahammad
• Captain: Nazmul Huda Faisal

Bangladesh will be seeking a positive start to their campaign against a confident Nepalese side, with aspirations of progressing to the semi-finals and beyond.