Bangladesh have qualified for the SAFF Championships 2023 semifinals after a win over Bhutan in their final group-stage match on Wednesday, June 28. With this result, they now have joined Lebanon in the last four from Group B. Earlier, Kuwait finished as Group A toppers with India finishing in second place. The semifinal line-ups are hence out, with Kuwait facing Bangladesh and India taking on Lebanon on July 1. The tournament has already gotten off to a rollicking group stage and fans can expect much more from it as the proceedings head towards the knockout rounds. ‘Then Virat Kohli, Today Sunil Chhetri’ Fans Liken India's Talismanic Football Team Captain to Cricket Star After Former’s Hat-Trick Decimates Pakistan in SAFF Championships 2023.

A total of eight teams are participating in this competition and have been clubbed into two groups. India, Pakistan, Kuwait and Nepal have been put in Group A, while Group B comprises Bangladesh, Lebanon, Maldives and Bhutan. The top two teams from both these groups would qualify for the semifinals on July 1. The final would be played on July 4.

SAFF Championships 2023 Group A Points Table

Pos Teams P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Kuwait 3 2 1 0 8 2 +6 7
2 India 3 2 1 0 7 1 +6 7
3 Nepal 3 1 0 2 2 5 -3 3
4 Pakistan 3 0 0 3 0 9 -9 0

 SAFF Championships 2023 Group B Points Table

Pos Teams P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Lebanon 3 3 0 0 7 1 +6 9
2 Bangladesh 3 2 0 1 6 4 2 6
3 Maldives 3 1 0 2 3 4 -1 3
4 Bhutan 3 0 0 3 2 9 -7 0

(Important Abbreviations: Pos-Position, P-Played, W-Won, L-Lost, D-Drawn, GF-Goals For, GA-Goals Against, Pts-Points)

India are the record champions, having won the title for eight times. The Blue Tigers are also the defending champions, having defeated Nepal in the final of the last edition, which was held in 2021. All the matches in this edition of the tournament would be played at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 27, 2023 09:46 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).