2017 SAFF U-18 Championship
 | |
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Host country | Bhutan |
| Dates | 18–27 September |
| Teams | 5 (from 1 confederation) |
| Venue(s) | Changlimithang Stadium (in Thimphu host cities) |
| Final positions | |
| Champions |  Nepal (2nd title) |
| Runners-up |  Bangladesh |
| Third place |  India |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 10 |
| Goals scored | 26 (2.6 per match) |
| Attendance | 38,737 (3,874 per match) |
| Top scorer(s) | Jafar Iqbal (5 goals) |
| Best player(s) |  Orgyen Tshering |
| Fair play award | Bhutan |
← 2015 2019 → | |
The 2017 SAFF U-18 Championship was the 2nd edition of the SAFF U-18 Championship, an international football competition for men's under-18 national teams organized by SAFF. But since most teams use to send their U-18 team keeping in mind 2018 AFC U-19 Championship qualification it has been officially changed to U-18 tournament. The tournament was hosted by Bhutan 18–27 September 2017.[1]
It was the first time that Bhutan was hosting SAFF event.
Host selection
A draw for tournament ceremony was held on 10 July 2017 at conference room of Bangladesh Football Federation.
SAFF general secretary Anwarul Haque Helal and BFF general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag, were among others present on the occasion.[1]
Player eligibility
Players born on or after 1 January 1999 are eligible to compete in the tournament.
Participating teams
On 6 September 2017 it was announced that Sri Lanka withdrew from the tournament whereas Pakistan didn't take part due to internal turmoil.[2]
| Team | Appearances in the SAFF U-18 Championship |
Previous best performance |
|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh
|
2nd | Semi finals (2015) |
| Bhutan (Host)
|
2nd | Group Stage |
| India
|
2nd | Runners-Up (2015) |
 Maldives
|
2nd | Group Stage |
| Nepal
|
2nd | Champion (2015) |
Venue
| Thimphu |
|---|
| Changlimithang Stadium |
| Capacity: 25,000 |
|
Match officials
- Referees
- Assistant Referees
- Mohammad Shah Alam
- Phurpa Wangchuk
- Mohan Ravi
- Karma Yeshi
- Padam Bahadur Bhujel
Sampath Liyanagunawardena
- Referee Supervisor
Format
After Sri Lanka U18 opted out from the event. Now the championship will be played on round robin basis. Each team will face every other team once respectively and the team with the most points will win the title.[3]
Standings
| Key to colours in group tables | |
|---|---|
| Champion | |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nepal (C)
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 | +4 | 9[a] | Champion |
| 2 | Bangladesh
|
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 5 | +4 | 9[a] | |
| 3 | India
|
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 7 | +1 | 6 | |
| 4 | Bhutan (H)
|
4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 6 | |
| 5 | Maldives
|
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 7 | −6 | 0 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) goal difference; 5) number of goals scored;
(C) Champions; (H) Hosts
Notes:
| Bangladesh | 4–3 | India |
|---|---|---|
Jafar Iqbal  55', 90+1'Rahmat Mia 60'Mahbubur Rahman Sufil 74' |
Report |
|
| Maldives | 0–1 | Bhutan |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
| Bhutan | 1–0 | Nepal |
|---|---|---|
|
| Maldives | 0–2 | Bangladesh |
|---|---|---|
|
| Nepal | 2–0 | Maldives |
|---|---|---|
|
| India | 3–0 | Bhutan |
|---|---|---|
|
| India | 2–1 | Maldives |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
| Bangladesh | 1–2 | Nepal |
|---|---|---|
|
|
| Bhutan | 0–2 | Bangladesh |
|---|---|---|
|
| Nepal | 2–0 | India |
|---|---|---|
|
Winner
| 2nd SAFF U-18 Championship 2017 |
|---|
 Nepal Second title |
Awards
The following awards were given for the 2017 SAFF U-18 Championship.
| FIFA Fair Play Award | Golden Boot Award | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bhutan
|
Jafar Iqbal
|
Goalscorers
- 5 Goals
- 3 Goals
- 2 Goals
- 1 Goal
References
- ^ a b "SAFF U18 Draw held". Daily Sun. 11 July 2017. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- ^ "Sri Lanka withdraws its participation from SAFF U18 Championship". Goal Nepal. 6 September 2017.
- ^ "SAFF U18 Championship Format Changed". The Daily Star. 11 September 2017.
- ^ "SAFF U18 Championship To Be Played In Round Robin Format". Goal Nepal. 11 September 2017. Archived from the original on 12 September 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2017.