2023 SAFF Championship#Group B

At the SAFF Executive Committee meeting, held on 17 October 2021 in the Maldives, Football Sri Lanka expressed their interest to bid for hosting the tournament.{{Cite web|last=Premlal|first=Sushil|title=FSL keen to host 2023 SAFF Tourney|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/211010/sports/fsl-keen-to-host-2023-saff-tourney-457799.html|date=10 October 2021|access-date=2021-10-17|newspaper=The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)|archive-date=19 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019125501/https://www.sundaytimes.lk/211010/sports/fsl-keen-to-host-2023-saff-tourney-457799.html|url-status=live}} However, FIFA suspended Sri Lanka on 21 January 2023, which ceased them from hosting and participation in any football tournament.{{Cite web|title=Suspension of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) from 21 January 2023 until further notice|url=https://digitalhub.fifa.com/m/5d07bb14cb642349/original/Circular-1831_Suspension-FFSL_EN.pdf|date=22 January 2022|location=Zürich|access-date=2023-01-27|website=digitalhub.fifa.com|archive-date=22 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230122234914/https://digitalhub.fifa.com/m/5d07bb14cb642349/original/Circular-1831_Suspension-FFSL_EN.pdf|url-status=live}}

Later on 30 January 2023, SAFF unofficially announced that only Nepal had applied for hosting rights till the deadline which is 29 January 2023.{{cite news |title=সাফের স্বাগতিক হতে শুধু নেপালের আবেদন |url=https://www.prothomalo.com/sports/football/zmhy0mir5x |access-date=28 June 2023 |work=Prothom Alo |date=29 January 2023|language=Bengali|archive-date=29 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329140719/https://www.prothomalo.com/sports/football/zmhy0mir5x |url-status=live}} The host was supposed to be announced following the SAFF members' meeting during 33rd AFC Congress in Manama, Bahrain on 1 February 2023. On 14 February 2023, India were declared as the hosts of the 14th edition of the championship.{{cite web|url=https://saffederation.org/news/read/79|title=SAFF confirms Sports Partner International as the official commercial partner|website=saffederation.org|date=14 February 2023|access-date=14 February 2023|archive-date=14 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230214135443/https://saffederation.org/news/read/79|url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=SAFF Championship 2023: All you need to know, dates, schedule, match timings, venue |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/saff-championship-2023-full-schedule-date-time-venue-match-details-live-streaming-info-indian-football/article66976802.ece |access-date=28 June 2023 |work=Sportstar |publisher=The Hindu|location=Chennai |date=16 June 2023|archive-date=26 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626210539/https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/saff-championship-2023-full-schedule-date-time-venue-match-details-live-streaming-info-indian-football/article66976802.ece|url-status=live}} On 19 March 2023, AIFF announced Bangalore as the host city for SAFF Championship 2023.{{Cite web |title=Bengaluru to host 2023 SAFF Championship |url=https://www.the-aiff.com/article/bengaluru-to-host-2023-saff-championship|website=the-aiff.com |access-date=19 March 2023|archive-date=19 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319133850/https://www.the-aiff.com/article/bengaluru-to-host-2023-saff-championship|url-status=live}}

Football Sri Lanka was sanctioned by FIFA on 21 January 2023, which made them ineligible for participation in the competition. Kuwait and Lebanon were invited as guest teams with a view to increase the number of teams for the championship and make the event more competitive.{{Cite web|title=Lebanon to compete in SAFF Championship|url=https://saffederation.org/news/read/89|date=8 May 2023|access-date=8 May 2023|website=saffederation.org|archive-date=8 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230508110656/https://saffederation.org/news/read/89|url-status=live}}

Each team had to register a squad with a minimum of 18 players and a maximum of 23 players, at least three of whom must be goalkeepers.

The Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore, Karnataka, India hosted all the matches.

The draw ceremony of this tournament was held on 17 May 2023 at 12:30 IST in New Delhi, India.{{Cite web |last=Chatterjee |first=Triyasha |date=2023-05-15 |title=SAFF Championship 2023 Draw on May 17, Indian Football Team eye consecutive titles - Follow SAFF 2023 LIVE |url=https://www.insidesport.in/saff-championship-2023-draw-on-may-17-indian-football-team-eye-consecutive-titles-follow-saff-2023-live/ |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=www.insidesport.in |language=en-US}}

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;Referees

{{colbegin|colwidth=18em}}

• {{flagicon|BAN}} Md Alamgir Sarker
• {{flagicon|BHU}} Pema Tshewang
• {{flagicon|IND}} Crystal John
• {{flagicon|MDV}} Sinan Hussain
• {{flagicon|NEP}} Prajwol Chhetri
• {{flagicon|PAK}} Irshad Ul Haq

{{colend}}

;Assistant referees

{{colbegin|colwidth=18em}}

• {{flagicon|BAN}} Mohammad Nuruzzaman
• {{flagicon|BHU}} Phurpa Wangchuk
• {{flagicon|IND}} S Manikandan
• {{flagicon|IND}} Sumanta Dutta
• {{flagicon|MDV}} Ahmed Hassan
• {{flagicon|NEP}} Nani Ram Thapa Magar

{{colend}}

{{hatnote|All times are local, IST (UTC+5:30).}}

{{2023 SAFF Championship group tables|Group A}}

{{Football box

|date = {{Start date|2023|6|21|df=y}}

|time = 15:30

|team1 = {{fb-rt|KUW}}

|score = 3–1

|report = https://web.archive.org/web/20230624175740/https://saffederation.org/uploads/6492f5e2b5462.pdf

|team2 = {{fb|NEP}}

|goals1 =

• El Ebrahim {{goal|23}}
• Al-Khaldi {{goal|42}}
• Daham {{goal|65|pen.}}

|goals2 = Bista {{goal|69}}

|stadium = Sree Kanteerava Stadium

|location = Bangalore

|attendance = 1,200

|referee = Md Alamgir Sarker (Bangladesh)

}}

{{Football box

|date = {{Start date|2023|6|21|df=y}}

|time = 19:30

|team1 = {{fb-rt|IND}}

|score = 4–0

|report = https://web.archive.org/web/20230624175648/https://saffederation.org/uploads/64932b99cb0b0.pdf

|team2 = {{fb|PAK}}

|goals1 =

• Chhetri {{goal|10||16|pen.|75|pen.}}
• Kumam {{goal|81}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = Sree Kanteerava Stadium

|location = Bangalore

|attendance = 22,860

|referee = Prajwol Chhetri (Nepal)

}}

----

{{Football box

|date = {{Start date|2023|6|24|df=y}}

|time = 15:30

|team1 = {{fb-rt|PAK}}

|score = 0–4

|report = https://web.archive.org/web/20230624175537/https://saffederation.org/uploads/6496ea9a66863.pdf

|team2 = {{fb|KUW}}

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

• Al-Enezi {{goal|10}}
• Al-Faneeni {{goal|17||45+1}}
• Al-Rasheedi {{goal|69}}

|stadium = Sree Kanteerava Stadium

|location = Bangalore

|attendance = 309

|referee = Pema Tshewang (Bhutan)

}}

{{Football box

|date = {{Start date|2023|6|24|df=y}}

|time = 19:30

|team1 = {{fb-rt|NEP}}

|score = 0–2

|report = https://web.archive.org/web/20230624175157/https://saffederation.org/uploads/64971d8ad1d63.pdf

|team2 = {{fb|IND}}

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

• Chhetri {{goal|62}}
• N. M. Singh {{goal|70}}

|stadium = Sree Kanteerava Stadium

|location = Bangalore

|attendance = 12,642

|referee = Sinan Hussain (Maldives)

}}

----

{{Football box

|date = {{Start date|2023|6|27|df=y}}

|time = 15:30

|team1 = {{fb-rt|NEP}}

|score = 1–0

|report = https://web.archive.org/web/20230629122427/https://saffederation.org/uploads/649adec1e6aaf.pdf

|team2 = {{fb|PAK}}

|goals1 =

• Chaudhary {{goal|80}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = Sree Kanteerava Stadium

|location = Bangalore

|attendance = 250

|referee = Sinan Hussain (Maldives)

}}

{{Football box

|date = {{Start date|2023|6|27|df=y}}

|time = 19:30

|team1 = {{fb-rt|IND}}

|score = 1–1

|report = https://web.archive.org/web/20230627224534/https://saffederation.org/uploads/649b1b22326b6.pdf

|team2 = {{fb|KUW}}

|goals1 =

• Chhetri {{goal|45+2}}

|goals2 =

• A. Ali {{goal|90+2|o.g.}}

|stadium = Sree Kanteerava Stadium

|location = Bangalore

|attendance = 9,562

|referee = Md Alamgir Sarker (Bangladesh)

}}

{{2023 SAFF Championship group tables|Group B}}

{{Football box

|date = {{Start date|2023|6|22|df=y}}

|time = 15:30

|team1 = {{fb-rt|LBN}}

|score = 2–0

|report = https://web.archive.org/web/20230624175921/https://saffederation.org/uploads/6494469232010.pdf

|team2 = {{fb|BAN}}

|goals1 =

• Maatouk {{goal|80}}
• Bader {{goal|90+6}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = Sree Kanteerava Stadium

|location = Bangalore

|attendance = 50

|referee = Crystal John (India)

}}

{{Football box

|date = {{Start date|2023|6|22|df=y}}

|time = 19:30

|team1 = {{fb-rt|MDV}}

|score = 2–0

|report = https://web.archive.org/web/20230624180015/https://saffederation.org/uploads/64947b372b8f4.pdf

|team2 = {{fb|BHU}}

|goals1 =

• Mohamed {{goal|6|pen.}}
• N. Hassan {{goal|90}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = Sree Kanteerava Stadium

|location = Bangalore

|attendance = 200

|referee = Irshad Ul Haq (Pakistan)

}}

----

{{Football box

|date = {{Start date|2023|6|25|df=y}}

|time = 15:30

|team1 = {{fb-rt|BAN}}

|score = 3–1

|report = https://web.archive.org/web/20230626073527/https://saffederation.org/uploads/64983a90daffe.pdf

|team2 = {{fb|MDV}}

|goals1 =

• Rakib {{goal|42}}
• Kazi {{goal|67}}
• Morsalin {{goal|90}}

|goals2 =

• Hamza {{goal|18}}

|stadium = Sree Kanteerava Stadium

|location = Bangalore

|attendance = 100

|referee = Prajwol Chhetri (Nepal)

}}

{{Football box

|date = {{Start date|2023|6|25|df=y}}

|time = 19:30

|team1 = {{fb-rt|BHU}}

|score = 1–4

|report = https://web.archive.org/web/20230626073603/https://saffederation.org/uploads/64986aabbc06a.pdf

|team2 = {{fb|LBN}}

|goals1 =

• Gyeltshen {{goal|79}}

|goals2 =

• Sadek {{goal|11}}
• Al Haj {{goal|23}}
• Bader {{goal|35}}
• M. Zein {{goal|42}}

|stadium = Sree Kanteerava Stadium

|location = Bangalore

|attendance = 250

|referee = Irshad Ul Haq (Pakistan)

}}

----

{{Football box

|date = {{Start date|2023|6|28|df=y}}

|time = 15:30

|team1 = {{fb-rt|LBN}}

|score = 1–0

|report = https://web.archive.org/web/20230629122611/https://saffederation.org/uploads/649c28ec38f65.pdf

|team2 = {{fb|MDV}}

|goals1 =

• Maatouk {{goal|24}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = Sree Kanteerava Stadium

|location = Bangalore

|attendance = 50

|referee = Pema Tshewang (Bhutan)

}}

{{Football box

|date = {{Start date|2023|6|28|df=y}}

|time = 19:30

|team1 = {{fb-rt|BHU}}

|score = 1–3

|report = https://web.archive.org/web/20230629122703/https://saffederation.org/uploads/649c6695907bf.pdf

|team2 = {{fb|BAN}}

|goals1 =

• Dorji {{goal|12}}

|goals2 =

• Morsalin {{goal|21}}
• Jigme {{goal|31|o.g.}}
• Rakib {{goal|36}}

|stadium = Sree Kanteerava Stadium

|location = Bangalore

|attendance =

|referee = Crystal John (India)

}}

{{#invoke:RoundN|N4

|style=white-space:nowrap|widescore=yes

|bold_winner=high|color=yes

|RD1=Semi-finals

|RD2=Final

| 1 July 2023|{{fb|KUW}} {{aet}}|1|{{fb|BAN}}|0

| 1 July 2023|{{fb|LBN}}|0 (2)|{{fb|IND}} {{pen}}|0 (4)

|4 July 2023|{{fb|KUW}}|1 (4)|{{fb|IND}} {{pso}}|1 (5)

}}

{{Football box

| date = {{Start date|2023|7|1|df=y}}

| time = 15:00

| team1 = {{fb-rt|KUW}}

| score = 1–0

| aet = y

| report = https://web.archive.org/web/20230701202406/https://saffederation.org/uploads/64a02bdf0f725.pdf

| team2 = {{fb|BAN}}

| goals1 =

• Al-Buloushi {{goal|105+2}}

| goals2 =

| stadium = Sree Kanteerava Stadium

| location = Bangalore

| attendance = 500

| referee = Crystal John (India)

}}

{{Football box

| date = {{Start date|2023|7|1|df=y}}

| time = 19:30

| team1 = {{fb-rt|LBN}}

| score = 0–0

| aet = y

| report = https://web.archive.org/web/20230702043927/https://saffederation.org/uploads/64a068e10b054.pdf

| team2 = {{fb|IND}}

| penaltyscore = 2–4

| penalties1 =

• Maatouk {{penmiss}}
• Shour {{pengoal}}
• Sadek {{pengoal}}
• Bader {{penmiss}}

| penalties2 =

• {{pengoal}} Chhetri
• {{pengoal}} A. Ali
• {{pengoal}} Mahesh
• {{pengoal}} Udanta

| stadium = Sree Kanteerava Stadium

| location = Bangalore

| attendance = 19,640

| referee = Sinan Hussain (Maldives)

}}

{{main|2023 SAFF Championship final}}

{{Football box

| date = {{Start date|2023|7|4|df=y}}

| time = 19:30

| team1 = {{fb-rt|KUW}}

| score = 1–1

| aet = y

| report = https://web.archive.org/web/20230705091149/https://saffederation.org/uploads/64a46456995f9.pdf

| team2 = {{fb|IND}}

| goals1 =

• Khaldi {{goal|14}}

| goals2 =

• Chhangte {{goal|36}}

| penaltyscore = 4–5

| penalties1 =

• Daham {{penmiss}}
• Otaibi {{pengoal}}
• Dhaferi {{pengoal}}
• Naji {{pengoal}}
• Khaldi {{pengoal}}
• Hajeyah {{penmiss}}

| penalties2 =

• {{pengoal}} Chhetri
• {{pengoal}} Jhingan
• {{pengoal}} Chhangte
• {{penmiss}} Udanta
• {{pengoal}} S. Bose
• {{pengoal}} Mahesh

| stadium = Sree Kantiramva Stadium

| location = Bengaluru

| attendance = 24,563

| referee = Prajwol Chhetri (Nepal)

| event =

| round =

| score1 =

| score2 =

}}

{{Goalscorers

|goals=38 |matches=15

|5 goals=

• {{fbicon|IND}} Sunil Chhetri

|2 goals=

• {{fbicon|BAN}} Rakib Hossain
• {{fbicon|BAN}} Shekh Morsalin
• {{fbicon|KUW}} Mobarak Al-Faneeni
• {{fbicon|KUW}} Shabaib Al-Khaldi
• {{fbicon|LBN}} Khalil Bader
• {{fbicon|LBN}} Hassan Maatouk
• {{fbicon|MDV}} Hamza Mohamed

|1 goal=

• {{fbicon|BAN}} Tariq Kazi
• {{fbicon|BHU}} Tsenda Dorji
• {{fbicon|BHU}} Chencho Gyeltshen
• {{fbicon|IND}} Udanta Singh Kumam
• {{fbicon|IND}} Naorem Mahesh Singh
• {{fbicon|IND}} Lallianzuala Chhangte
• {{fbicon|KUW}} Abdullah Al-Buloushi
• {{fbicon|KUW}} Mohammad Daham
• {{fbicon|KUW}} Khalid El Ebrahim
• {{fbicon|KUW}} Hasan Al-Enezi
• {{fbicon|KUW}} Eid Naser Al-Rasheedi
• {{fbicon|LBN}} Ali Al Haj
• {{fbicon|LBN}} Mohamad Omar Sadek
• {{fbicon|LBN}} Mahdi Zein
• {{fbicon|MDV}} Naiz Hassan
• {{fbicon|NEP}} Anjan Bista
• {{fbicon|NEP}} Aashish Chaudhary

|1 own goal=

• {{fbicon|BHU}} Phuntsho Jigme (against Bangladesh)
• {{fbicon|IND}} Anwar Ali (against Kuwait)

}}

{{winners|fb|SAFF Championship 2023| India|9th}}

Prize money amounts were announced in 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/sports/football/saff-championship-2023-prize-money-full-list-of-award-winners-as-winning-captain-sunil-chettri-wins-big-2023-07-05-879476/|title=SAFF Championship 2023 Awards And Winners|website=India TV News|access-date=5 July 2023}}

{{Portal|India|Association football}}

• 2022 SAFF Women's Championship
• 2022 AFF Championship
• 2022 EAFF E-1 Football Championship
• 2023 CAFA Nations Cup
• 2023 WAFF Championship
• 2023 AFC Asian Cup
• 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)

{{Reflist}}

{{SAFF Championship}}

{{2022–23 in Asian football (AFC)}}

Category:SAFF Championship

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