The Blue Colts successfully defend their SAFF U19 Championship crown at the Golden Jubilee Stadium on Sunday, May 18, 2025.

The match had ended 1-1 after regulation time, forcing a nervy penalty shootout. Buoyed by a raucous crowd, India had taken the lead in the second minute through captain Singamayum Shami before Bangladesh equalised in the 61st minute through Md Joy Ahamed.

The shootout was not for the faint-hearted. Rohen Singh’s limp second penalty gave Bangladesh the upper hand as keeper Md Ismail Hossain Mahin saved the spot-kick; the stadium fell silent.

But Bibiano Fernandes’ boys refused to buckle. When Bangladesh skipper Nazmul Huda Faysal blazed his effort over the cross-bar, the game swung back India’s way. With renewed belief, India converted their remaining kicks, and goalkeeper Suraj Singh Aheibam delivered when it mattered the most. He dived low to his left to deny Salahuddin Sahed.

Captain Singamayum Shami, who had started the evening with a stunning goal, stepped up for the final kick. Calm, composed, and full of conviction, he slotted it in to crown India champions once again. A fitting end to a tense and fiercely fought contest.

India had come flying out of the blocks. Within two minutes, they were ahead. Awarded a free-kick from over 30 yards out, Shami spotted the Bangladesh keeper slightly out of position and went for goal. His curling strike was pinpoint, and even though Mahin got a hand to it, the power behind the effort carried it into the net.

India rode the momentum, dominating possession and pushing Bangladesh on the back foot. Their passing was crisp, their movement sharp, and their wings once again proved their most potent weapon. In the 16th minute, Omang Dodum sliced through the defence with a solo run and was nearly in for a second, but Mahin made a vital save to keep Bangladesh in the contest.

Those missed chances would come back to haunt India. Bangladesh, rattled at first, grew into the game. They closed down spaces, cut off India’s passing channels, and slowly turned the tide. By half-time, they had begun to threaten with set-pieces, but India’s backline stood firm.

The breakthrough came in the 61st minute. A chaotic corner sparked a scramble in the box, and Md Joy Ahamed pounced on the loose ball, firing it past Suraj Singh to level the match. It was the first goal India had conceded in the tournament, and it came at the worst possible moment.

From there, both teams pressed for a winner, but the game turned cagey and physical. The final third became a battlefield, and clear-cut chances were few and far between.

With the whistle blowing for full time, it all came down to the tie-breaker. And India captain Shami rose to the occasion a second time to bury the final penalty into the net and send his team and the crowd into delirium.

FT: India (Singamayum Shami 2’) 1 (4) – 1 (3) Bangladesh (Md Joy Ahamed 61’)

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With a brace from the in-form Rohen Singh Chaphamayum and goals from local favorite Omang Dodum and the influential Danny Meitei, the hosts finished their group stage campaign with a perfect record and an impressive +12 goal difference.

Despite both nations already securing their places in the semi-finals, the opening exchanges were energetic, suggesting neither side was willing to concede the top spot. However, once the floodgates opened in the 28th minute, India asserted their authority. A well-directed cross from Malemngamba Singh on the left flank found Rohen Singh, who slotted home the opener. Just a minute later, the dynamic Danny Meitei turned provider, playing a through ball to Omang Dodum, who displayed excellent footwork before calmly side-footing his shot into the top corner, sending the home crowd into raptures.

The second half saw India maintain their dominance, with the attacking trio of Omang, Danny, and Prashan consistently troubling the Nepalese defense. The third goal arrived in the 76th minute when Prashan Jajo’s low cut-back found Danny, whose initial shot was saved, only for the alert Rohen to volley in the rebound for his second of the match. Danny, who had been a constant threat throughout, finally got his deserved goal in the 84th minute. After Nepal goalkeeper Bhakta Bahadur Pariyar parried a long-range effort from captain Singamayum Shami, Danny was quick to react, poking in the loose ball to complete the comprehensive victory.  

With this emphatic win, India will now face Group A runners-up Maldives in the semi-finals on Friday, May 16th at 7:30 PM IST. Meanwhile, Nepal will face Group A winners Bangladesh in the earlier semi-final at 3:30 PM IST.

FT: India (Rohen Singh 28’, 76’, Omang Dodum 29’, Danny Meitei 84’) 4 – 0 Nepal

Despite a winless run in the earlier Group A encounter, the Maldives secured their place in the semi-finals after a dramatic 2-2 draw with Bhutan. Lham Tenzin put Bhutan ahead in the 44th minute, but Aidh Mohamed Jaweez equalized for the Maldives in the 75th minute. Ashham Ibrahim Mohamed looked to have snatched a late win for Maldives in the 90+3rd minute, but Chogyel S. Sherab’s even later equalizer for Bhutan ultimately proved inconsequential for their qualification hopes, as Maldives advanced as group runners-up behind Bangladesh.

FT: Maldives (Aidh Mohamed Jaweez 75′, Ashham Ibrahim Mohamed 90+3′) 2 – 2 Bhutan (Lham Tenzin 44′, Chogyel S. Sherab 90+6)

Picture Credit – AIFF Media

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Riding on Monirul Molla’s headed goal in the first half, India were looking to take control by widening the gap, but a scuffle between players from both sides resulted in three red cards – two for India and one for Bhutan – which threatened to change the entire complexion of the game. Despite Bhutan creating plenty of pressure in the remainder of the contest to capitalise on their man advantage, India kept them at bay and came out with all three points.

India got on the front foot from the get-go, taking control of possession and playing with a high backline as Bhutan settled deep in their third. Gurnaj Singh Grewal attempted India’s first shot as he intercepted a pass from goalkeeper Lhocho Nima and pulled the trigger from more than 40 yards out, but Nima backtracked in time and collected the ball.

India looked dangerous from set-pieces, particularly with Kelvin Singh Taorem’s curling deliveries. In the 14th minute, he whipped in a free-kick which was met by Thomas Cherian in the six-yard box but he could only send his glancing header wide.

On a rare foray forward, Bhutan registered their first shot of the match when captain Pema Zangpo was fouled by Cherian near the by-line. With the resulting free-kick, Zangpo set up Jignam Dorji, whose first-time shot was blocked by Manjot Singh Dhami.

With Bhutan cramping out spaces through the middle, India resorted to long-range attempts as well. Kelvin went for the spectacular from 35 yards but ballooned it way over the crossbar. Korou Singh Thingujam’s dipping shot five minutes later was slightly better, but it missed the target by a few inches.

Sensing a glorious opportunity, Korou burst into the box from the right and went for a low strike but it missed the far post by merely a few inches after being deflected by Kinley Penjoy.

Finally, India’s breakthrough arrived from a Kelvin corner in the 37th minute. Monirul Molla rose highest to meet his looping delivery and accurately headed it into the bottom corner to put the Blue Colts 1-0 up.

Kelvin’s corners continued to trouble Bhutan in the second half too as in the 52nd minute, Ebindas Yesudasan’s header narrowly missed the bottom corner. A little later, Korou headed wide from Kelvin’s chipped cross amidst pressure from the Bhutan goalkeeper.

In a startling turn of events, Bhutan’s Kinley Gyeltshen and India’s Pramveer and Vanlalpeka Guite, who hadn’t even touched the ball after coming on, were shown the red card following a scuffle in the 69th minute. India were reduced to nine for the remainder of the match, while Bhutan had 10 players. In the very next minute, Molla paced from the halfway line to the Bhutan box, escaping several yellow shirts but was eventually thwarted by Nima in a one-on-one situation.

After maintaining the deficit at 0-1, Bhutan began piling pressure on India with their man advantage. Jigme Namgyel came close twice, hitting the side netting and then flashing a low shot wide of the far post. Rigzin Dorji stuck his foot out to get on the end of a long ball in the box, almost catching Priyansh Dubey out of position, but he recovered to collect the ball.

The 10 minutes of injury time were perhaps as eventful as the entire 90 minutes before that as both India and Bhutan had chances to alter the scoreline. In the 93rd minute, Gwgwmsar Goyary sneaked his way in the box and beat Nima to set it on a plate for Manglenthang Kipgen, but Penjoy was on hand to block it from point-blank range. In the 99th minute, Kipgen’s lobbed effort from 25 yards was pushed onto the crossbar by Nima’s fingertips, before the final chance of the match fell for Bhutan as Zangpo slid behind the Indian defence and poked a left-footed shot which struck the post.

India XI: Priyansh Dubey (GK), Ricky Meetei Haobam (C), Thomas Cherian, Pramveer, Manjot Singh Dhami, Korou Singh Thingujam, Gurnaj Singh Grewal (Manglenthang Kipgen 63′), Ebindas Yesudasan (Vanlalpeka Guite 63′), Monirul Molla (Gwgwmsar Goyary 84′), Malemngamba Singh Thokchom, Kelvin Singh Taorem (Surajkumar Singh Ngangbam 72′)

– Courtesy AIFF Media

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India and Bangladesh were declared joint champions of the SAFF U19 Women’s Championship at the BSSSMK Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Thursday, February 8, 2024.

India led for the majority of the contest, riding on Sibani Devi Nongmeikapam’s early goal before Sagorika equalised for the hosts in injury time to take it into penalties. After an extraordinary shoot-out which remained locked at 11-11 as every single player on the pitch converted their penalties, the referee decided to halt the proceedings and perform a coin toss to determine the winners.

India won the coin toss, but the decision was later revoked considered there was no official rule of coin toss being conducted in the middle of shootout. After more than two hours of waiting, the trophy was shared. This is India’s fourth age-group title in women’s SAFF competition history, and the first on Bangladeshi soil.

While Bangladesh edged India in possession in the first half, it were the Young Tigresses who were more incisive going forward. When Sulanjana Raul released Neha into acres of space before goalkeeper Swarna Rani Mandal swept the ball off her feet in the second minute, it was a sign of things to come.

Understandably, the final generated considerable interest in the local football circle. With the prospect of Bangladesh winning a back-to-back title looming large, a big crowd thronged the stadium long before the final started.

They came with drums and bugles, flags and banners. The festive mood of the partisan crowd, however, received a stunning blow when India took the lead off another well-constructed move as captain Nitu Linda showed exemplary vision to release Sibani behind the Bangladesh defence. The pacy winger was clever enough to dink it the first time over the onrushing Swarna. Sibani could have added another just minutes later, as her half-volley sailed inches above the crossbar.

India, however, failed to defend the lead and conceded the equaliser well into the add-on time of the second half. Linda’s headed clearance fell onto the path of Sagorika, who slotted it past Anika, a carbon copy of her goal against India in the group stage at exactly the same minute – 93rd.

Back to the rest of the match, Raul was efficient in her role as a false nine, feeding Neha and Sibani on the overlaps time and again. Her sharp turns and quick feet often left the hosts falling flat.

India defended compactly, leaving Bangladesh with no option but to try their luck from a distance. Sapna Rani first sent a 25-yard shot high and wide before hitting her second effort on target, which Anika Devi Sharubam collected with ease for her first save of the match.

For large parts of the second half, India looked likelier to get a second goal than Bangladesh an equaliser. In the 54th minute, the Young Tigresses had a glorious chance as Sibani picked out Neha with a diagonal ball into the box. Neha tried to lay it for Pooja, but Swarna swiftly gathered it before she could get to the end of it.

Neha remained in the thick of things for the remainder of the match. A few minutes later, her cross from the left was headed wide by Raul. Corners have been Bangladesh’s strong point throughout the tournament and they did threaten from those. First, Surma Jannat headed over Sapna’s delivery before the latter struck the crossbar directly from her inswinging corner.

At the other end, Neha also hit the bar in the 88th minute with a stinging left-footed strike from the edge of the box. That was India’s final chance of sealing the deal in regulation time because Bangladesh restored parity five minutes later.

Each one of India’s starting eleven players successfully converted their penalties in the shoot-out, including goalkeeper Anika, who scored the 11th and the final one. Bangladesh were equally clinical, but Anika would’ve felt luck was not on her side as she jumped the right way for six of the 11 shots but couldn’t make a save.

The AIFF Acting Secretary General, Mr. M Satyanarayan said: “India, despite being declared winners after the spin of the coin, decided to accept the officials’ request for sharing the trophy as the situation was simmering and a section of the home fans was found indulging in creating disturbances. Since the security of the players and other team officials is our utmost priority, the AIFF decided to agree to the request of the organisers.”

India U19: Anika Devi Sharubam (GK), Sonibia Devi Irom, Thoibisana Chanu Toijam, Viksit Bara, Pooja, Lalita Boypai, Sulanjana Raul, Nitu Linda (C), Neha, Sibani Devi Nongmeikapam, Heena Khatun.

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The tournament will be played in a round robin format with the top two teams after the league round will face each other in the final. All the matches will be played at the Mostafa Kamal Stadium in Dhaka. The matches will be live streamed on Sportzworkz YouTube Channel.

The 23-member squad: 

Goalkeepers: Khushi Kumari, Anika Devi Sharubam, Hempriya Seram

Defenders: Heena Khatun, Vikshit Bara, Sonibia Devi Irom, Juhi Singh, Nishima Kumari

Midfielders: Shivani Toppo, Lalita Boypai, Akhila Rajan, Rivka Ramji, Arina Devi Nameirakpam, Cindy Remruatpuii Colney, Menaka Devi Lourembam, Sibani Devi Nongmeikapam, Thoibisana Chanu Toijam

Forwards: Babita Kumari, Nitu Linda, Sulanjana Raul, Neha, Pooja, Sahena TH

Head Coach: Sukla Dutta

India’s fixtures at the SAFF U-19 Women’s Championship: 

February 2: India vs Bhutan, 2.30 PM IST 
February 4: Bangladesh vs India, 6.30 PM IST
February 6: India vs Nepal, 2.30 PM IST
February 8: Final (Top two teams), 5.30 PM IST

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It was India’s eighth youth title in the SAFF championships, a clear testimony to their regional supremacy.

In a stunning display of talent and composure, substitute Manglenthang Kipgen once again emerged as the hero for the Indians. Following his nerve-wracking winning penalty strike against hosts Nepal in the semi-final on Wednesday, Kipgen continued to shine on the grand stage as he scored the first two goals to literally slam the doors on Pakistan’s ambitions. He arguably had no competitor in sight when he was awarded the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament.

Kipgen had a role to play in the third goal, too, as his clever chip resulted in Gwgwmsar Goyary scoring the third goal in the add-on time, thus sealing Pakistan’s fate in the tie, who were by then reduced to a 10-man team.

The India youngster’s impactful presence came to life when he was brought on as a substitute for Ebindas Yesudasan at the commencement of the second half, with the score still locked at 0-0. However, it didn’t prevent him from leaving an indelible mark on the match.

What also made this achievement all the more remarkable is that for the vast majority of the Indian squad, this SAFF U-19 Championship, marked their first international tournament representing the nation.

India were up against a well-organised Pakistani defence right from the start of the game. With Pakistan resorting to physical football, the Indians took time to settle down in the match. The Blue Colts had their first real opportunity in the 37th minute. Ebindas Yesudasan delivered a pass from midfield to Naoba Meitei Pangambam, but Pakistan defender Muhammad Azan quickly stepped in to intercept.

Unfortunately for Pakistan, Azan’s clearance was flawed, leading to the ball finding its way to Sahil Khurshid. However, the young Indian forward struggled to maintain his balance and couldn’t generate enough power behind his shot. As a result, the attempt was easily gathered by Pakistan’s goalkeeper Sahil Gul.

The second half of the match brought about a remarkable shift in dynamics. India took control of the game, dictating the tempo with their passes and making effective use of the available space. Their dominance was evident right from the start, as they crafted an early chance. Unfortunately, Khurshid couldn’t capitalise on a cross, missing a golden opportunity to put India ahead.

Nonetheless, their assertive play signalled a promising turn of events and they ultimately took the lead in the 64th minute. The pivotal moment unfolded with Kipgen delivering a breathtaking goal from just beyond the box.

The sequence began with Kipgen’s attempt to set up a teammate within the box, only to have the pass blocked by Muhammad Azan. However, Kipgen seized the rebound. With precision and finesse, he unleashed a curling shot with his right foot that left the Pakistan defence in awe, propelling India into the lead.

In the 85th minute, Kipgen located a gap in Pakistan’s defensive wall and delivered a beautifully curled free-kick. What added to the spectacle was the clever move from another India substitute, Kelvin Singh Taorem, who made a run in front of the Pakistan defence. Pakistan goalkeeper Gul anticipated Taorem would take control of the free-kick, but Taorem exhibited a remarkable presence of mind and allowed the ball to pass through. This unexpected decision left Gul perplexed as the ball found its way into the back of the net and extended India’s lead.

India wrapped up the match in style in the fifth minute of added time when Kipgen’s well-directed cross was headed home by Gwgwmsar Goyary for his third goal in the tournament.

Pakistan were reduced to 10 men towards the end of the match when Ali Zafar was sent off for his second yellow card offence.

India: Lionel Daryl Rymmei, Ishaan Shishodia, Ricky Meetei Haobam, Manabir Basumatary (Surajkumar Singh Ngangbam 46th minute), Raja Harijan, Gwgwmsar Goyary, Naoba Meitei Pangambam (Kelvin Singh Taorem 81st minute), Sahil Khurshid, A Siba Prasad, Ebindas Yesudasan (Manglenthang Kipgen 46th minute), Thomas Kanamoottil Cherian.

Most Valuable Player:

Manglenthang Kipgen (IND)

Top Scorers of the Tournament (all 3 goals):

Gwgwmsar Goyary (IND)

Jigme Namgyal (BHU)

Samir Tamang (NEP)

Best Goalkeeper:

Lionel Daryl Rymmei (IND)

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In a repeat of last year’s SAFF U20 Championship final, India will begin their Group B campaign with a clash against Bangladesh at the Dashrath Stadium at 13:15 IST. The match will be streamed live on the Sportzworkz YouTube Channel. Bhutan are the third and final side in the group, while Group A consists of hosts Nepal, Maldives and Pakistan. The top two sides from each group will progress to the semi-final.

The current batch of U19 boys, mostly consisting of 2005-born players, have been training together in Bhubaneswar since 2021, and will finally get the chance to make their competitive international debut at the South Asian tournament.

In Al-Ahsa last week, the Blue Colts played two friendly matches against U19 sides of local clubs Al-Nojoom FC and Al-Adalah FC, winning 2-0 and 3-1, respectively. “We have been practising for a long time, almost two years. Before arriving here in Nepal, we had a great tour of Saudi Arabia, where we played a couple of matches. The preparation has been very good,” said head coach Shuvendu Panda in the pre-tournament press conference on Wednesday.

Panda, on the eve of the India U19’s international debut, also extended his gratitude to the AIFF and Odisha government for their continued support throughout the past couple of years. “The support from the federation has been outstanding. I would like to thank the Odisha government for providing world-class facilities to our team during the entire duration.

“Most of our players are inexperienced. They have never played any international match. So, I would also like to thank the federation for providing such a wonderful exposure tour before participating in the SAFF Championship, a tournament we’ve been really looking forward to. I would like to wish all the best to all the teams,” he said.

Bhubaneswar’s Kalinga Stadium was also the venue of the 2022 SAFF U20 Championship final, where India ran out 5-2 winners over Bangladesh after extra time. With two of the tournament’s favourites meeting on the opening day, an exciting clash is definitely in store for tomorrow.

Opening up on his team’s preparations, Bangladesh head coach Rashed Ahmed said, “We have been preparing for the past four weeks. We’re in good shape. We arrived here yesterday. Our goal is to win the first match, qualify for the semi-finals and make it to the final. I hope the best team wins tomorrow. It’s going to be a great game.”

Despite the lack of international experience, India’s captain and midfielder Ishaan Shishodia, who hails from Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh, has every reason to believe the team can live up to their favourites tag and continue India’s glorious tradition at SAFF events.

“It feels amazing to be here. As the coach said, we’re just coming back from a great tour to Saudi Arabia. We played a couple of games there and won both. Our team feels confident and happy. India has been the most successful nation in every SAFF competition, and I’m sure we can also repeat the glory,” said Shishodia.

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