Bangladesh will face hosts Nepal in the final of the SAFF U-20 Championship'2024 on Wednesday (August 28) for their maiden title.

The title deciding match will kick off at 2:45 pm Bangladesh time at the ANFA Complex, Lalitpur in Kathmandu.

The Bangladesh team will miss their captain and number one goalkeeper, Mehdi Hasan Srabon, in Wednesday's final due to injury.

Ahead of the final, Bangladesh coach Maruful Haque said, "From day one,to till now, we are in the right track, if we make our players fully fit in the field, and will play according to our plan, then we do hope we will bring the trophy home.

Earlier in the 2nd semifinal on Monday, two brilliant saves by substitute goalkeeper Mohammad Asif guided Bangladesh to the final of the SAFF U-20 meet, eliminating three-time champions and holders India by 4-3 goals in the breaker.

The crucial 2nd semifinal match between two neighbouring countries was locked in 1-1 goals in the stipulated 90 minutes at the same venue.

In the stipulated period, Asadul Mollah put the Bangladesh U-20 team ahead in the 36th minute by a nice placing shot from the danger zone, capitalising on a good left wing cross from his teammate amid huge cheers from small Bangladeshi fans (1-0).

Ricky Meetei Haobom gave the lifeline for India in the 75th minute, scoring the equaliser by a ground shot from goalmouth melee (1-1).

Earlier, Bangladesh booked a seat for the semis as the Group A runners up with three points, beating Sri Lanka 2-0 and losing to hosts Nepal by 1-2 goals.

Nepal emerged as Group A champions to qualify for the semis with an all-win run, securing a full six points from straight two matches, beating Sri Lanka 1-0 and Bangladesh 2-1, and they reached the final, eliminating Bhutan by 4-1 goals in the tiebreaker in the first semifinal on Sunday.

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