Male, Maldives (August 13) - The Maldives U20 National Football Team has finalized its squad for the upcoming SAFF U20 Championship, scheduled to be held in Nepal.

The team is set to depart for Kathmandu later on Wednesday.

The championship will take place from August 18-28 at Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu.

Six teams will participate in the tournament, although Pakistan withdrew following the draw.

Ahmed Shakir (Shaakitte), the most successful youth coach in the Maldives, will once again lead the team from the bench. Previously an assistant coach for the senior national team, Shakir was in charge of the Maldives U19 team during their last appearance in this competition, which was held in India.

Maldives has been placed in Group B alongside India and Bhutan.

The team will face Bhutan in their opening match on August 21 and India in their second game on August 23.

Following the SAFF U20 Championship, the team will resume training in preparation for the AFC U20 Cup qualifiers, where they will compete in Group F alongside Indonesia, Timor-Leste, and Yemen.

The qualifying phase is set to take place in Jakarta in late September.

Maldives U20 Final Squad for SAFF Championship:

Mohamed Yaameen

Ahmed Nawaf Fauzy

Hassan Haisham Hamid

Hassan Raaidh

Afzal Mohamed

Mohamed Joodh Ashfaaq

Yooshau Bin Ali Nasheed

Dhayyan Ahmed

Shanaan Rashaadh

Ish Aafu Mohamed Firag

Abdulla Looth Ibrahim

Adam Shiyaan Mohamed

Mohamed Faizaan Fazeen

Abdulla Fizaan Abdul Qafoor

Ahmed Zahaan Nazeer

Ahmed Athwan Ali

Mohamed Aiham Anwar

Ahmed Ifhaam Mohamed

Adam Layaan Rasheed.

Muzdhaan Hassan

Yoosuf Shaaif

Abdulla Razeef Mohamd

Mohamed Shuaau Samoon