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Kathmandu: The Nepal national U-20 men’s football team was officially bid farewell on Thursday ahead of their departure to the Maldives for the SAFF U-20 Championship.

The farewell ceremony was held in a special program attended by players, coaching staff, officials from the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), and other stakeholders.

Head coach Urjan Shrestha expressed confidence in the team’s preparation, stating that the squad is well-prepared and determined to secure the title. He highlighted that a significant number of players in the current squad have prior experience with the senior national team.

“We have had good preparation. Around 14–15 players have already played for the national team. Our objective is to win the championship. We fell short in the final previously, but this time we are determined to go all the way. The team is balanced, and there are no major concerns,” Shrestha said.

Nepal has been placed in Group A alongside hosts Maldives, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka. The team will open its campaign against Bhutan on March 23, followed by a match against Sri Lanka on March 25 after a rest day. Nepal will conclude the group stage against the Maldives on March 27.

The tournament features all seven SAFF member nations — Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. The teams have been divided into two groups, with Group B comprising Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan.

The group stage will be played in a round-robin format, with the top teams advancing to the knockout stage.