Bengaluru, India (4th July) – Indian assistant coach Mahesh Gawli expects a tough final match as defending champions India will face Kuwait in the final of SAFF Championship 2023 tonight.

Both India and Kuwait were in Group A of the tournament. In their group stage encounter, a late own goal by Indian defender Anwar Ali earned Kuwait a 1-1 draw to finish top of the group.

India will be hoping to clinch a record 9th title of SAFF Championship in front of their home crowd.

Indian head coach Igor Stimac will be suspended for the final and his assistant Gawli will be at the dugout for the game.

Gawli expects a tough game and said that he has asked his players to keep “their cool” in the final.

“I think this one will be more difficult. Kuwait is a very strong side as you all might have seen. They have a good number of technically gifted players and are defensively strong as well,” the former Indian defender said.

“The last match against them was very heated. But we spoke to the boys and asked them to be calm and cool because it is a game, and we must win.”

Gawli has been at both ends of a SAFF final before. Gawli was part of the Indian team that won the SAFF Championship in 2005. He was also part of the Indian team that lost the SAFF Championship final in 2008.

With head coach Stimac suspended, Gawli will instruct the team tonight and he can become the first person to win the championship both as a player and coach.

“Even though I enjoyed the win in Karachi more, I think winning this [as coach] will make me happy in a different way,” Gawli said.