India’s U-17 men’s national football team cruised into the final of the SAFF U-17 Championship 2025 with a commanding 3-0 victory over Nepal at the Racecourse International Stadium on Thursday. With this result, the young Blue Colts maintained their perfect record in the tournament, setting up a highly anticipated title clash against Bangladesh, who earlier edged out Pakistan 2-0 in the other semifinal.
Despite dominating the first half, India were left frustrated by a series of missed opportunities. The team’s fluid attacking play repeatedly broke through Nepal’s defensive lines, but poor finishing in the final third meant the scoreboard remained blank at the break — a concern for head coach Bibiano Fernandes.
That concern was swiftly addressed in the second half. The breakthrough came in the 61st minute through a moment of clever play and quick thinking. Denny Singh Wangkhem delivered a low cross from the right flank, which forward Gangte brilliantly let run past him with a dummy. The move completely caught the Nepal defence and goalkeeper off guard, allowing Wangkheirakpam Gunleiba to calmly slot the ball home and give India the deserved lead.
With Nepal forced to push forward in search of an equaliser, India struck again on the counter. In the 80th minute, substitute K.H. Azlaan Shah made an immediate impact, receiving a ball on the left wing and sprinting past his marker with ease. A sharp cut inside created space for him to unleash a thunderous strike that flew past the goalkeeper. That goal not only doubled India’s lead but also showcased the attacking depth of the squad.
India sealed the match deep into stoppage time. Gunleiba turned provider this time, whipping in a low cross that bypassed the Nepal defence and found another substitute, Diamond Singh Thokchom, who calmly tapped in from close range in the 90+4th minute.
While the team will celebrate its fourth straight win in the competition, Fernandes may still demand sharper finishing from his forwards when they face Bangladesh in the final. However, the tactical discipline, speed on the wings, and clinical second-half display will give India plenty of confidence heading into the decider.
The final promises a fierce battle between the tournament’s two most consistent sides, with India now just one win away from lifting the SAFF U-17 title once again.
