Bangladesh face India today

Hosts Bangladesh are optimistic about produce another good result against holders India when the two sides meet in the final Group A match of the SAFF U-16 Championship at the Sylhet District Stadium today.

Both India and Bangladesh have already confirmed their semifinal berths by beating Sri Lanka, and today's result will deice who finishes top of the group.

India, with a (+5) goal difference are ahead of Bangladesh, who have a (+4) goal difference; hence Bangladesh will need an outright victory to emerge group champions which will pit them against the Group B runners-up in the semifinals.

Bangladesh coach Syed Golam Jilani claimed that he has worked with his forwards on how to be more precise on finishing chances after the strikers wasted a number of scoring chances in their 4-0 win against Sri Lanka. 

India coach Bithan Singh, however, wants his side to concentrate on their own game rather than think about the opposition.

“We have respect for the opponents but we want to play our own game as everything is going in the right direction,” said Bithan.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan and Nepal booked their semifinals berth from Group B, sending Maldives out, after the former beat the islanders by 4-2 goals yesterday.

Abdul Naser Amini struck a brace while Shayeq Hakeme and Sher Ahmad Hamedi netted one goal each for Afghanistan. Yanish Adil and Ismail Zaan Amir reduced scored the two goals for Maldives.