Formidable Arabian nation Lebanon confirmed their participation in the eight-nation South Asian Federation Football (SAFF) Championship'2023 as an invitee team.

The 14th version of the biggest football festival of South Asia will be held in the Indian city of Bengaluru from June 21 to July 4 next.

Lebanon, FIFA ranked 99, will be the top seeded team in the ensuing SAFF Championship, followed by hosts India with a ranking of 101.

In a statement of SAFF on Monday (May 8) said, the Football Association of Lebanon accepted the South Asian Football Federation's invitation for participating in the 2023 SAFF Championship.

Earlier in the SAFF meeting in Dhaka on May 6,  the SAFF EC committee revealed that they are in hunt of the 8th and final team for the SAFF tournament and they will wait till May 15 for the confirmation. 

Finally the inclusion of Lebanon fulfilled their target.

Earlier, gulf nation Kuwait confirmed their participation in the SAFF Championship as the first invitee team.

Apart from two invited guest teams Lebanon and Kuwait,  six South Asian countries --defending champions India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal and Bhutan --will participate in the regional soccer meet.

Another SAFF nation, Sri Lanka, is barred from competing in the tournament due to FIFA restriction.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh national football team will play a FIFA International Friendly match against Cambodia on June 15 during  a FIFA window, as a part of their preparation for the 14th SAFF Championship.

The residential training camp of the national football team will begin at the Bashundhara Kings Arena in the capital on June 4 during  a long break of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) football.

Bangladesh team will leave Dhaka for Cambodia three to four days ahead of the match (June 15)  and will fly directly for Bengaluru from there on June 16.