Hosts Bangladesh won the four-nation SAFF U-20 Women's Championship 2023 with an unbeaten run, beating Nepal 3-0 in the final at the floodlit Birshrestha Shaheed Sipahi Mostafa Kamal Stadium in the capital's Kamalapur Thursday evening.
This was the second straight win for Bangladesh against the Himalayan nation in the competition. Earlier, the hosts beat Nepal 3-1 in the group stage.
So far, the Bangladesh women's team have reached the final in eight SAFF age group tournaments since 2017. It was the fifth title for Bangladeshi women in the South Asian Football tournaments – four at different age groups and the other at the national (senior) level.
The Bangladesh women's team made history by clinching their first SAFF Women's (Senior) Championship title, beating hosts Nepal 3-1 in Kathmandu last September.
Earlier, Bangladesh beat India 1-0 in Dhaka in 2017 to win the SAFF U-15 Women's Championship with an unbeaten record.
Also, they clinched the SAFF U-18 crown with an unbeaten run in Bhutan in 2018, beating Nepal 1-0.
Bangladesh won the SAFF U-19 Championship in Dhaka in 2021 after beating India 1-0.
In today's final, Shaheda Akter Ripa opened Bangladesh's account in the 42nd minute with an accurate shot into the far corner of the net (1-0). Captain Shamsunahar doubled the lead in the 45th (2-0).
Unnoti Khatun sealed the fate of the match after scoring the third goal for Bangladesh in the 86th minute, capitalising on a free kick from Shaheda Akter Ripa (3-0).
Also, forward Aklima Khatun missed two easy chances in the first half.
After league-basis matches of the championship, Bangladesh made the final as the only unbeaten team, securing seven points. Nepal reached the final after earning six points.
On the road to the final, Bangladesh beat Nepal 3-1, drew goalless with India and outplayed Bhutan 5-0 in the last group match.
Nepal moved into the final, defeating Bhutan 4-0, India 3-1, and losing 1-3 to Bangladesh.
State Minister for Youth and Sports M Zahid Ahsan Russell congratulated Bangladesh women for their win and handed out the awards to the champions and runners-up.
