India U17 prepare for final flourish as they face Bangladesh in SAFF U17 Championship summit clash

India defeated Nepal in the semi-final on Thursday.

The Indian U17 team will look to lift the SAFF U17 Championship trophy for the seventh time when they take on Bangladesh in the final on Saturday. The Blue Colts are unbeaten in this edition of the tournament so far, as they have managed to brush aside all the opponents they have met on their way to the final.

India defeated Nepal on Thursday in a semi-final that had contrasting halves of play. The first one was cagey with India not being able to penetrate Nepal’s defense, but the second half saw India’s sheer dominance on display. The Indian fans would expect the same on the night of the final, which will kick off at 6:00 PM IST.

The Indian U17 football team are preparing for the SAFF U17 Championship 2025 final against Bangladesh tomorrow at Racecourse International Stadium.The match will kick off at 18:00 IST!#IndianFootball #IndianFootballTeam #BlueColts pic.twitter.com/Ur04iIkUuF

— Khel Now (@KhelNow) September 26, 2025

Also Read: India edge past Nepal to book SAFF U17 Championship 2025 final spot

The Stakes

India U17

The Blue Colts have shown indefatigable spirit in the SAFF U17 Championship. Bibiano’s boys have faced moments where they seemed to have lost the track but this talented bunch found their way out each time they were put in an adverse situation.

Whether it was the match against Bhutan or Pakistan, the Indian team showed maturity and discipline to survive the spell of pressure and come out all guns blazing. The semi-final against Nepal also followed the same script. At half-time, it appeared as if Bibiano’s team was clueless and had no idea how to break Nepal’s resilience.

But the Indian boys took to the pitch in the second half with renewed gusto and made the first half look like an aberration. The defending champions were all over Nepal, creating a plethora of chances which ended up giving India a comfortable 3-0 victory in the end.

Bangladesh U17

India and Bangladesh have been locked in some fierce contests in the past at all levels of international football. Bangladesh are gunning for revenge. The last two editions of the SAFF U17 Championship also saw an India vs Bangladesh final, which ended in India’s favour. This is an opportunity for Bangladesh to redeem their pride.

The group A toppers have been in fine form. They were sublime in the group stage, hammering both Nepal and Sri Lanka with a 4-0 score line. The semi-final against Pakistan also saw Bangladesh making the opposition helpless.

The final will be the ultimate test for Bangladesh. If they can move on from the horrors of the last two defeats against India, the finale will be a cracker of a contest between the two best sides of the tournament.

Team News

Both teams will have their full-strength squad available for the game.

Probable Lineups

India U17

Manashjyoti Baruah, Denny Singh Wangkhem, Maldino Singh Yumnam, Shubham Poonia, Korou Meitei, Thonggoumang Touthang, Rahan Ahmed, Dallalmuon Gangte, Md Aimaan, Hrishikesh Manavathi, Gunleiba Wangkheirakpam

Bangladesh U17

Md Alif Rahman Imtiage (GK), Nazmul Huda Faysal (C), Md. Sabbir Islam, Ihsan Habib Riduan, Md Azam Khan, Md Ikramul Islam, Md Kamal Merdha, Md Opu Rahman, Md. Arif, Md Manik, Md Rifat Kazi

Player to watch out for

Rahan Ahmed (India U17)

India’s lethal No.9 could not make a goal-scoring contribution in the semi-final against Nepal, but his attacking threat will keep Bangladesh on their toes in the final. The prospect of Rahan Ahmed registering his name on the score sheet in the summit clash cannot be discarded.

He has played an instrumental role in carrying India to the knockouts with his clutch performances against Bhutan and Pakistan. Had it not been for his late winners, India might not have stayed in contention for defending their title. Bibiano will expect his ‘Super Sub’ to replicate his group stage brilliance again in the final.

Where to watch India vs Nepal in the SAFF U17 Championship 2025?

All the matches in the SAFF U17 Championship 2025 will be live-streamed on the Sportzworkz YouTube Channel.

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