“SAFF 2021: A Thrilling Look Back at the Football Championship as Fans Gear Up for SAFF 2023”
The South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship 2023 is just around the corner, scheduled to be held from 21 June to 4 July in India. The tournament promises to be an exhilarating show for South Asian football.
Before going to SAFF 2023; Recap of Exciting SAFF 2021 in Maldives
The South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship 2021 witnessed intense competition between five teams –
- Bangladesh,
- Nepal,
- Sri Lanka,
- India,
- Maldives.
The tournament was played in a round-robin format, with the top two teams advancing to the final.
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
| Nepal | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| Maldives (H) | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| Bangladesh | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| Sri Lanka | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
This was the point table after round-robin matches in the SAFF 2021
In the opening match, Bangladesh defeated Sri Lanka 1-0, while Nepal secured a 1-0 victory over the hosts, Maldives.
India played to a 1-1 draw against Bangladesh in the third match, and Nepal defeated Sri Lanka 3-2 in the fourth match.
India then played to a 0-0 draw against Sri Lanka in the fifth match, leaving them under pressure.
In the sixth match, host Maldives defeated Bangladesh 2-0. Similarly in the seventh match, Maldives secured a 1-0 win over Sri Lanka.
India managed to secure their first win in the championship by defeating Nepal 1-0 in the eighth match.
The ninth match between Nepal and Bangladesh in the round-robin phase was a must-win for Bangladesh, but they only managed to secure a 1-1 draw. This result saw Nepal advance to the final for the first time in their history.
India defeated host Maldives 3-1 in the tenth and also the last match of the round-robin league stage and reached the final to play against Nepal.
India vs Nepal; Final of SAFF 2021
In the final match played at the National Football Stadium in Malé, India secured a convincing 3-0 win over Nepal. Sunil Chhetri, Suresh Singh Wangjam, and Sahal Abdul Samad scored a goal each for India, leading them to victory.
With this win, India claimed their 8th SAFF Championship title, making them the most successful team in the tournament’s history. The SAFF Championship 2021 was an exciting show for South Asian football.
Also Read: SAFF Championship 2023: All You Need to Know
Also Read: Nepal vs Philippines Friendly Match Ahead of SAFF Championship 2023