SAFF U-20 CHAMPIONS: Grand reception planned for heroes

Open-top bus parade and Hatirjheel ceremony to celebrate Bangladesh’s historic back-to-back triumph.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh U-20 squad received a hero’s welcome at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on Saturday evening upon their return from the Maldives, a day after reclaiming the SAFF U-20 Championship title with a victory over India in Male.

Bangladesh’s youth football team will be welcomed home with a grand celebration following their historic victory in the SAFF U-20 Championship. The Bangladesh Football Federation has organized a colorful parade to honor the champions.

The festivities will begin at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, with the team traveling in an open-top bus to the Hatirjheel Amphitheatre, where a formal reception is scheduled for approximately 7:30 PM.

The reception celebrates one of the most significant achievements in recent Bangladeshi football, as the team secured the championship for the second consecutive time by defeating India in the final.

The decisive match ended in a goalless draw during regulation time and went to a penalty shootout. With the score tied at 3-3, Ronan Sullivan took the final kick. Displaying remarkable composure under pressure, he executed a Panenka-style penalty to secure victory, igniting celebrations among fans.

The Bangladesh Football Federation has invited supporters and the general public to join the parade and ceremony to congratulate the young players.

While the women’s team has previously received similar honors, this will be the first time a men’s age-group team is celebrated with such a large-scale public event.