Dhaka: Bangladesh football team reached the final of the six-nation SAFF U-16 Championship eliminating Afghanistan by a solitary goal in the semi-final at the Sylhet Stadium on Sunday.

Saad Uddin scored the match winning goal for Bangladesh in the 56th minute of the game. The first half of the semi­-final was locked in 0-0.

Visiting Afghanistan exerted heavy pressure on hosts Bangladesh in the middle of the second half to equalise the margin, but Bangladesh defended their castle nicely.

Bangladesh will play the final against the winner of the day’s second semi­-final–either Nepal or defending champions India–on 18 August at the same venue.

Hosts Bangladesh confirmed the semi-final berth of the 11-day South Asian soccer meet from group A eliminating all-losers Sri Lanka by 4-0 goals in their first match on 11 August. Later, they defeated defending champions India by 2-1 goals in the last group match to be the group champion at the same venue on 13 August.

India also assured the semi-final berth from the same group beating Sri Lanka by 5-0 goals in the tournament opener on 9 August.