Nepal U-20 Squad Departs for Maldives with SAFF Championship Ambitions
KATHMANDU – The Nepal U-20 national football team will depart for Male, Maldives, on Friday night to compete in the upcoming SAFF U-20 Championship. The tournament, scheduled from March 23 to April 4, offers Nepal a key opportunity to reestablish its position in regional youth football. Ahead of this challenge, the squad prepared diligently for the conditions they would face. To ensure the team is ready for the Maldives, the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) held a formal farewell ceremony on Thursday. ANFA General Secretary Kiran Rai, Assistant General Secretary Damodar Bhattarai, and Spokesperson Suresh Shah offered their best wishes after the squad completed a 40-day closed-camp training to prepare for the humid conditions. **Experience Meets Fresh Blood** Building on this preparation, Nepal maintains tactical continuity as Urjan Shrestha begins his third consecutive term as U-20 head coach. Shrestha previously led the team in the sixth edition at home in 2024 and the seventh edition in India last year, giving him significant experience with the tournament’s demands. Shrestha’s experience is critical for a team seeking to reclaim past glory. Nepal, a two-time champion with victories in the inaugural edition in Kathmandu and the second in Thimphu, has not won the trophy in recent years. Two years ago, Shrestha’s team lost 4-1 to Bangladesh in the final at Satdobato. Reflecting on these outcomes, Shrestha acknowledged that minor lapses in concentration have affected past performances. “We have frequently faltered due to small mistakes. Sometimes players acting on individual whims instead of the tactical plan has handed results to the opposition. This time, we are extremely serious about fixing those errors,” Shrestha stated. **A Lone Top-Flight Leader** Forward Dharvendra Kunwar, who plays for Jawalakhel Youth Club in the ANFA National League, will captain the team. Kunwar is the only member of the 23-man squad with top-flight experience, having played in the Martyr’s Memorial ‘A’ Division League three years ago. Despite this experience gap, Kunwar believes the team’s chemistry is a key strength. “Technically, the squad isn’t drastically different from previous years, but our team spirit has never been stronger. We are heading into this tournament with a very positive mindset,” he said. **Tournament Outlook: The Road to the Semifinals** Group A includes Nepal, the Maldives (hosts), Bhutan, and Sri Lanka. Nepal is in this group and faces a challenging route to the knockout stages. The seven participating nations are divided into two groups, with the top two from each advancing to the semifinals. **Group B: India (Defending Champions), Bangladesh, Pakistan** **Nepal’s Group Stage Schedule (All times NST)**: **Date Opponent Time** **March 23 Bhutan 4:30 PM** **March 25 Sri Lanka TBD** **March 27 Maldives TBD** Starting with the opening match against Bhutan on March 23, Shrestha’s team faces an important early test. With defending champions India in the opposite group, Nepal needs a strong start to advance beyond the group stage.
