Malé, Maldives: The 2026 SAFF Men’s U20 Championship, Group B at the National Football Stadium saw Pakistan U20s end their journey on a bitter note. India ran away 3-0 winners though the result did not tell the whole story.
Following a humbling 2-0 loss to Bangaldesh two days prior, Pakistan desperately needed a result in their final group game against their eternal rivals India to salvage any prospects to reaching next round. Pakistan coach Shahzad Anwar made a few changes in the starting line-up for the game.
Yet it was India who took an early lead after another defensive lapse. Vishal Yadav scored past the hapless Pakistan goalkeeper Kashif in the 3rd minute, with a near post shot.
Pakistan gradually found their mark as the half progressed, with KRL striker Najeebullah coming close multiple times but failing to score past Indian goalkeeper and captain Suraj Singh Aheibam. Muhammad Junaid also tried his luck with a volley but Suraj saved well. Midfielders Zain Imran and Khobaib Khan tried to stamp their authority against an Indian side happy to sit back and absorb pressure.
With the score still 1-0 at half time, Pakistan again tried to take the initiative in 2nd half, though India also created a few half chances. Yet, just like the game against Bangladesh, Pakistan were denied by some controversial refereeing.
It was in 63rd minute when a deliberate handball in India’s box by Roshan Singh Thangjam when clearing the ball for a corner was somehow missed by the referee and the linesman. Pakistan players strongly protested for a penalty but referee Wangchuk Phurpa was having none of it. Instead, Pakistan captain Ali Zafar Hazara got booked for dissent.
Seconds later, India cleared a Pakistan corner and immediately made it 2-0 with Omang Dodum heading into an empty net with Kashif way off his line. Pakistan again tried to respond with substitutes Owais Ilyas and Muhammad Abdullah coming on from the bench to add more in the attack.
Yet Pakistan just couldn’t find the net despite creating even more chances in the last 15 minutes, with Muhammad Abdullah and Najeebullah again missing the target. India, however, were more clinical, when they won a penalty and Omang Dodum made it 3-0 in 88th minute.
The result knocked out Pakistan U20s from contention with 0 points from 2 games, with Bangladesh and India reaching the semi-finals by finishing top two in the three-team group with 3 points each. Bangladesh and India face each other on the 28th to decide the Group B placements.
This marks yet another year with Pakistan age group teams struggling to get results at the SAFF level against India and Bangladesh following similar disappointing results in the SAFF U16, U17, and U19 Championships from 2023 onwards.
Group A sees Nepal favourites to win their group while hosts Maldives, Sri Lanka and Bhutan fight for second place.
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