Grounded U-15s seek top spot

Fresh off a 9-0 triumph against Maldives, Bangladesh will be looking to advance as group champions when they take on hosts Nepal in the final Group A match of the SAFF U-15 Championship at the ANFA Complex ground in Kathmandu today.

The match will start at 2:45pm (BST) after India and Bhutan square off in a battle to see who will advance to the semifinals as runners-up from Group B. Pakistan have already topped that group with two wins.

Bangladesh and Nepal both confirmed their semifinal berths with a game in hand following wins over Maldives, but Bangladesh's superior goal difference means a draw will be enough for them to top Group A. However, the visitors will be determined to get a win and perhaps exact a small measure of revenge on the team that eliminated them from the semifinals with a 4-2 win in the previous edition.

However, despite a massive win to start the campaign, Mostafa Anwar Parvez's troops were keeping their feet planted.

"The boys kept their feet on the ground and are not feeling any complacency after achieving the initial target of [reaching the] semifinals. The boys want to qualify for the semifinals as group champions and they are ready to face Nepal, who are a strong side," said head coach Parvez.

Keeping his emotions in check, captain Mahedi Hasan added: "We are happy with the big win over Maldives but we have to keep working hard to be group champions."