Lalitpur, August 10

Hosts Nepal along with Bhutan and Bangladesh are pitted in Group ‘A’ for the First SAFF U-19 Championship slated for August 20-29 in Kathmandu.

At the tie-sheet draw held at the ANFA Complex, Satdobato on Monday, Maldives, India and Afghanistan were drawn in Group ‘B’. According to the seeding of AFC U-19 Nepal, India, Bangladesh and Maldives were placed in bowl 1, while Bhutan and Afghanistan were placed in bowl 2.

As per the fixtures, Nepal will open their campaign against Bhutan on August 20, while Maldives will take on Afghanistan on the second day. Speaking at the programme, ANFA CEO Indra Man Tuladhar informed that the matches will be either held at the artificial turf of the ANFA Complex or at the Army Physical Fitness and Training Centre, which has a natural surface.

“We are expecting to complete the parapets at the ANFA complex ground by the time of competition to hold all the matches here. If we are not able to complete the task by the tournament date the matches will be played at the Army Physical Fitness and Training Centre,” said Tuladhar.