Bangladesh advanced to the final of the ongoing SAFF Under-20 Championship after defeating Nepal 1-0 in the first semifinal held on Wednesday at the National Stadium in Male, Maldives. The decisive goal came in the 11th minute when Manik scored with a header from a planned corner attack initiated by Murshed Ali. Despite creating several scoring chances, Bangladesh could not extend their lead, and one goal was disallowed for offside.

Bangladesh, the defending champions, had previously won the title in 2024 by beating Nepal 4-1 in the final. In this year’s tournament, they began with a 2-0 win over Pakistan and drew 1-1 with India, finishing as group runners-up before reaching the semifinals. The team’s performance has been further boosted by the inclusion of US-based brothers Declan and Ronan Sullivan, both making their debut for Bangladesh and impressing with their play.

Bangladesh will face either India or Bhutan in the final, scheduled for April 3 in Male.