Itanagar: With a semi-final berth already secured, India will aim to seal top spot in Group B when they take on Nepal in a high-stakes group stage encounter of the SAFF U-19 Championship at the Golden Jubilee Stadium here on Tuesday.
India started their campaign in dominant fashion with an emphatic 8-0 win over Sri Lanka last Friday, marking head coach Bibiano Fernandes’ successful return to the youth team setup. Nepal, too, booked their place in the semi-finals with a clinical 5-0 win over Sri Lanka on Sunday, eliminating the island nation in the process.
“Both teams have had strong starts, but we don’t read too much into scorelines. Nepal are a compact and competitive unit,” said Fernandes, praising his team’s discipline and ball dominance in the opening match — India’s joint-highest margin of victory in any SAFF men’s age-group tournament.
Fernandes stressed on maintaining focus and avoiding complacency after a big win. “These are young boys, and part of their development is to stay grounded. It’s all about intensity, discipline, and respecting the opponent. We take it one match at a time,” he said.
India go into the match with a superior goal difference and require only a draw to top the group. The Blue Colts also enjoy a 48-hour rest advantage over Nepal heading into Tuesday’s clash.
“We’ve had three solid days of preparation. The boys have responded well, and we’re working on tactical adjustments after reviewing Nepal’s game,” Fernandes added.
The Nepalese side, led by coach Urjan Shrestha, is a blend of U17 and U20 players who were runners-up in the SAFF U-20 and semi-finalists in the SAFF U-17 last year.
“India are a strong side. We watched them play and there’s a clear difference. But we will work on our mistakes and aim to give a tough fight,” said Shrestha, acknowledging the challenge ahead.
With both teams eyeing momentum before the knockouts, the stage is set for a gripping battle between two South Asian heavyweights.
The much-anticipated match, scheduled to kick off at 7:30 PM IST, will be streamed live on the Sportzworkz YouTube channel, while tickets are available on slotallot.in. (Inputs: AIFF)
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