Bangladesh capped off a flawless campaign at the SAFF U-20 Women’s Championship 2025 with a thumping 4-0 win over Nepal in what was effectively the tournament’s final at the Bashundhara Kings Arena in Dhaka. The hosts needed just a draw to be crowned champions but turned the occasion into a celebration of attacking football, led by a sensational four-goal haul from Sagorika.
The forward opened the scoring as early as the eighth minute and then added three more in the second half, scoring in the 50th, 57th, and 77th minutes. She also had a goal disallowed in the 71st minute for offside. Her performance not only secured the win but also etched her name into the tournament’s history as one of its standout stars.
Sagorika’s return from a three-match suspension was nothing short of remarkable. It was against Nepal that she had been shown a red card earlier in the competition, and it was against the same opposition that she made her triumphant return. Her tournament-long consistency in front of goal proved decisive for Bangladesh’s title run.
This much-anticipated clash between the two top teams of the six-nation round-robin league turned into a one-sided affair. From the outset, Bangladesh executed English head coach Peter Butler’s game plan with discipline and purpose. They pressed high, kept possession with confidence, and launched wave after wave of attacks through Krishna, Munki, and Sagorika.
Nepal, who had tried to hold their shape and hit on the counter, found little joy against Bangladesh’s composed backline. Their few forays forward were expertly handled by goalkeeper Mili Akter, who produced a series of fine saves to preserve the clean sheet. Compared to their gritty performance in a muddy pitch in an earlier encounter, Nepal looked second-best on the dry and fast surface of the Kings Arena.
Bangladesh went into the break with a slender 1-0 lead, but it was in the second half that the floodgates opened. Fuelled by energy, confidence, and roaring home support, Bangladesh added three more goals in a devastating display of dominance. The crowd witnessed Sagorika’s clinical finishing, but the performance was a result of collective brilliance across the pitch.
The win confirmed Bangladesh as unbeaten champions, finishing with 18 points from six matches. Not only did they win every match, but they also kept their composure and consistency throughout the competition.
At the final whistle, the entire team burst into celebration. In a heartwarming moment, the players lifted coach Peter Butler onto their shoulders, a fitting tribute to the man behind the team’s strategic growth and winning mentality. It was a moment that underlined not just the success on the pitch, but the unity and belief within the squad.
SAFF U-20 Women’s Championship 2025
Final Standings (Top 2)
🇧🇩 Bangladesh – 6 wins, 0 draws, 0 losses (18 points)
🇳🇵 Nepal – 4 wins, 0 draws, 2 losses (12 points)
Final Match Result
Bangladesh 4–0 Nepal
Goals: Sagorika (8′, 50′, 57′, 77′)
Disallowed goal: Sagorika (71′, offside)
Top Performer
Sagorika – 4 goals vs Nepal, tournament top scorer
Coach
Peter Butler (England) – led Bangladesh to an unbeaten title win
Goalkeeper Highlight
Mili Akter – multiple key saves, clean sheet in final
Tournament Record
- Played: 6
- Won: 6