SAFF C'ship deferred to Sept 2018

The SAFF Championship has been deferred yet again as it will be held from September 4 to 15 next year in Dhaka, confirmed South Asian Football Federation's general secretary Anwarul Haque Helal.

“The SAFF meeting today [Sunday] decided to hold the SAFF Championship in Dhaka from September 4-15 with the participation of seven teams. The inclusion of Afghanistan was not accepted by the members,” Helal said over the phone after the meeting in Kathmandu, Nepal yesterday.

The apex football tournament of the region was initially scheduled for December 25, 2016 - January 5, 2017 but the All India Football Federation did not give its approval owing to the deferment of the franchise-based Indian Super League (ISL).

The meeting also decided to hold the SAFF U-15 and U-18 Women's Championships, SAFF Women's Championship and SAFF Under-15 Championship next year.