Nepal has secured the top spot in Group A of the 2026 SAFF U-20 Championship after drawing against Maldives 1-1 this evening.
Nepal had already secured their position for the semi-finals before their match against Maldives but with their draw, they have secured first place in Group A with 7 points on the board.
Sri Lanka and Bhutan, holding 3 points and 1 point respectively, are now vying for second place in Group A. Sri Lanka will be able to secure their spot in the semi-finals if they draw at minimum, Bhutan needing to win to secure theirs.
Mohamed Ilan Imran scored for Maldives in the 14th minute of today's match that was played at Male's national stadium. Maldives held this lead until the 86th minute.
Nepal's Nishan Raj Lawat scored for his team in the 86th minute, equalizing and saving them from a loss.
Maldives accumulated a total of two points from the three matches they have played in the championship.
