Hosts India will be looking to seek revenge on their home soil after the draw for the 2015 SAFF Suzuki Cup was held today in New Delhi. The 2013 runners up will be hoping their home fans can help them to an opening victory as they face local rivals Pakistan on December 23 in the tournament’s host city of Trivandrum in a double header.
2013 hosts Nepal and Sri Lanka fill the remaining spots in Group A. They will face each other in opening match of the tournament which proceeds’ the group’s other match.
Afghanistan, the winners of the 2013 edition, were automatically placed as the top seed their group and are joined by 2008 champions Maldives, Bhutan and Bangladesh. Their tournament begins with a tough match against Bangladesh who are looking to match their performance from 2003 which saw them being crowned champions. Minnows Bhutan will face the Maldives in a double header clash on December 24.
The top two teams from either group will progress to the semi finals which take place on December 31. The 2015 edition sees India host the tournament for the third time.
This year’s edition will be staged in one host city, Trivandrum on the south coast of India. With a capacity of 50,000, the Trivandrum International Stadium will be sight to behold as South Asia’s biggest football tournament commences on December 23.
Full schedule:
If you missed the draw you can watch it here:
courtesy: SAFF Suzuki Cup official website