SAFF Championship: begins with Nepal vs Kuwait inaugural match

KATHMANDU: The 14th edition of the Men’s SAFF Football Championship kicks off today in India.

The 14th SAFF will be held at Bangalore’s Sree Kanteerava Stadium and will feature eight nations.

Along with Nepal, hosts India, Bangladesh, Kuwait, Lebanon, Bhutan, Pakistan, and Maldives will participate in this edition of the championship. Kuwait and Lebanon will play as invited teams in this edition.

Today, Nepal, which is in Group ‘A,’ will face a formidable squad, Kuwait, in the first SAFF encounter.

The first match will begin at 3:45 PM Nepali time, between past runners-up Nepal and Kuwait.

Similarly, there will be a rivalry between India and Pakistan on the first day.

Nepal hopes to start the competition on a high note by defeating Kuwait today. However, Nepali will face a formidable opponent in Kuwait.

Kuwait and Nepal last competed in Jestha of last year.

In the third round of the AFC Asian Cup qualifications in Kuwait, the host team beat Nepal 4-1.

Nepal and Kuwait have played nine matches thus far. In Kuwait, he has won eight matches and drawn one.

Nepal’s group in this year’s SAFF contains past winners India, Kuwait, and Pakistan.

Group ‘B’ includes Lebanon, the Maldives, Bhutan, and Bangladesh.

Nepal will play host India on Ashar 9 (June 24) in the second match.

Similarly, in the third and final match of the group stage, they will play against Pakistan on Ashar 12 (June 27).

SAFF Championship 2023 – Match Schedule

June 21: Day 1

3:45 PM- Kuwait v Nepal

7:45 PM- India v Pakistan

June 22: Day 2

3:45 PM- Lebanon v Bangladesh

7:45 PM- Maldives v Bhutan

June 24: Day 3

3:45 PM- Pakistan v Kuwait

7:45 PM- Nepal v India

June 25: Day 4

3:45 PM- Bangladesh v Maldives

7:45 PM- Bhutan v Lebanon

June 27: Day 5

3:45 PM- Nepal v Pakistan

7:45 PM- India v Kuwait

June 28: Day 6

3:45 PM- Lebanon v Maldives

7:45 PM- Bhutan v Bangladesh