Bigger test awaits U-16s

Having clinched the SAFF U-16 Championship on Tuesday, the Bangladesh under-16 national team will have no time to relax as they have a bigger challenge awaiting them next month.

The Bangladesh colts, who returned to Dhaka late last night, lodged at the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) dormitory where they will spend two nights before setting up camp at a premier league club tent for the 2016 AFC U-16 Championship Qualifiers (Group D), which will be held in Dhaka from September 16 to September 20.

All the matches of these qualifiers, which will feature Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and hosts Bangladesh, will be held at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

The qualifying campaign has been split into 11 groups, with champions of each group and four best runners-up teams finding berth alongside hosts India for the final round of the 2016 AFC U-16 Championship. The final round of the competition will also act as the qualifying platform for the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup in India.