Mohammad.Fahim at 03:06, 4 February 2026

2026-02-04T03:06:53Z

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{{EngvarB|date=September 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox international football competition
| tourney_name = 2021 SAFF Championship
| image = SAFF Championship Maldives logo.png
| size =
| caption =
| cities = 1
| country = Maldives
| dates = 1–16 October
| num_teams = 5
| sub-confederations = 1
| venues = 1
| champion = India
| count = 8
| second = Nepal
| matches = 11
| goals = 22
| attendance =
| top_scorer = {{fbicon|IND}} [[Sunil Chhetri]]<br />(5 goals)
| player = {{fbicon|IND}} Sunil Chhetri
| young_player =
| goalkeeper =
| fair_play = {{fb|MDV}}
| prevseason = [[2018 SAFF Championship|2018]]
| nextseason = [[2023 SAFF Championship|2023]]
}}
The '''2021 SAFF Championship''', known as '''[[Ooredoo Maldives|Ooredoo]] SAFF Championship 2021''' for sponsorship reasons,<ref>{{cite news|last=Zalif|first=Zunana|url=https://raajje.mv/106753|title=Ooredoo named title sponsor of SAFF Championship 2021|website=Raajje|date=20 September 2021|access-date=20 September 2021|archive-date=21 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921111840/https://raajje.mv/106753|url-status=live}}</ref> was the thirteenth edition of the [[SAFF Championship]], the biennial international men's [[association football|football]] championship of [[South Asia]] organised by [[South Asian Football Federation]] (SAFF). Initially, it was decided to be hosted by [[Pakistan]] in 2020, but was postponed to September 2021 in [[Bangladesh]]. However, the tournament was postponed again to October due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in South Asia|COVID-19 pandemic]], with [[Maldives]] as host.<ref name="official" /><ref name="hosts" />

==Host selection==
On 11 April 2018, SAFF decided to allow [[Pakistan]] to host the tournament after the restoration of [[Pakistan Football Federation]]'s membership by [[FIFA]] and since then it would be country's first international football tournaments.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 April 2018 |title=Pakistan to host SAFF Football Championship 2020 |url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/227019/pakistan-to-host-saff-football-championship-2020/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608132829/https://dailytimes.com.pk/227019/pakistan-to-host-saff-football-championship-2020/ |archive-date=8 June 2019 |access-date=8 June 2019 |website=Daily Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=14 April 2018 |title=Pakistan to host South Asia football championship and two other soccer tournaments |url=http://www.arabnews.com/node/1284551/sport |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190706193034/http://www.arabnews.com/node/1284551/sport |archive-date=6 July 2019 |access-date=5 July 2019 |website=Arab News |language=en}}</ref> However, on 15 September 2019, SAFF president [[Kazi Salahuddin]] and general secretary Anwarul Haque Helal along with representatives of seven member countries decided to host the regional tournament in Bangladesh. This was to be the last edition to be held in even years, as it was decided that the subsequent editions would be held in odd years.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 September 2019 |title=Bangladesh to host SAFF Championship in Sept 2020 |url=https://en.prothomalo.com/sports/news/201883/Bangladesh-to-host-SAFF-Championship-in-Sept-2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191003064255/https://en.prothomalo.com/sports/news/201883/Bangladesh-to-host-SAFF-Championship-in-Sept-2020 |archive-date=3 October 2019 |access-date=18 September 2019 |website=Prothom Alo |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=17 September 2019 |title=BD to host SAFF C'ship in Sept, 2020 |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/sports/football/news/bd-host-saff-cship-sept-2020-1801165 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191005175744/https://www.thedailystar.net/sports/football/news/bd-host-saff-cship-sept-2020-1801165 |archive-date=5 October 2019 |publisher=The Daily Star |accessdate=4 October 2019}}</ref>

However, due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in South Asia|COVID-19 pandemic]], the tournament was postponed from its original date of 2020 to 2021,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Coronavirus: SAFF Championship postponed to 2021 |url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/coronavirus-saff-championship-postponed-to-2021/1usbkrzre8sn71nqtym2iy58vh |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017220802/https://www.goal.com/en/news/coronavirus-saff-championship-postponed-to-2021/1usbkrzre8sn71nqtym2iy58vh |archive-date=17 October 2020 |access-date=30 June 2020 |website=Goal |language=en}}</ref> and it was supposed to be held in September 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Executive Committee Meeting (SAFF) |url=https://saffederation.org/executive-committee-meeting/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117064031/https://saffederation.org/executive-committee-meeting/ |archive-date=17 January 2021}}</ref> Later, Bangladesh withdrew from hosting due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh|COVID-19 pandemic]] and lack of sponsors,<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 July 2021 |title=Football federation 'unwilling' to arrange SAFF Championship |url=https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/sports/football-federation-unwilling-to-arrange-saff-championship-1627051505 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724072848/https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/sports/football-federation-unwilling-to-arrange-saff-championship-1627051505 |archive-date=24 July 2021 |publisher=The Financial Express |accessdate=23 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=23 July 2021 |title=BFF 'unwilling' to organise SAFF Championship |work=Daily Bdnews24 |url=https://m.bdnews24.com/en/detail/sport/1917720 |url-status=live |access-date=26 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726153603/https://m.bdnews24.com/en/detail/sport/1917720 |archive-date=26 July 2021}}</ref> after which [[Prime Minister of Nepal|Nepalese Prime Minister]] [[KP Sharma Oli]] asked [[All Nepal Football Association]] (ANFA) to "initiate the process" of hosting the tournament in Nepal.<ref>{{Cite news |title=ANFA bid to host 13th SAFF Championship in Nepal gets Prime Minister's nod |publisher=The Kathmandu Post |url=https://kathmandupost.com/sports/2021/07/11/anfa-bid-to-host-13th-saff-championship-in-nepal-gets-prime-minister-s-nod |url-status=live |access-date=9 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809071326/https://kathmandupost.com/sports/2021/07/11/anfa-bid-to-host-13th-saff-championship-in-nepal-gets-prime-minister-s-nod |archive-date=9 August 2021}}</ref> In July, the ANFA received an offer to host the tournament.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 July 2021 |title=Nepal receive conditional offer to host SAFF Championship |url=https://the-anfa.com/news-detail/1213 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728134515/https://the-anfa.com/news-detail/1213 |archive-date=28 July 2021 |access-date=28 July 2021 |website=ANFA |publisher=All Nepal Football Association}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=25 July 2021 |title=Nepal receives an offer to host SAFF Championship 2021 |publisher=Online Khabar English |url=https://english.onlinekhabar.com/nepal-receives-an-offer-to-host-saff-championship-2021.html |url-status=live |access-date=28 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728133953/https://english.onlinekhabar.com/nepal-receives-an-offer-to-host-saff-championship-2021.html |archive-date=28 July 2021}}</ref> Meanwhile, the [[Football Association of Maldives]] submitted their bid to host the tournament.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Male |first=K. |date=2 August 2021 |title=Maldives officially submits bid to host SAFF Championship 2021 |publisher=raajjee |url=https://raajje.mv/104176 |url-status=live |access-date=2 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802095832/https://raajje.mv/104176 |archive-date=2 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=31 July 2021 |title=Maldives Submits Bid To Host SAFF Championship 2021 |publisher=goalnepal |url=https://www.goalnepal.com/news/detail/11411 |url-status=live |access-date=2 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802104444/https://www.goalnepal.com/news/detail/11411 |archive-date=2 August 2021}}</ref> On 9 August 2021, Maldives was declared as the hosts after an online meeting of the executive committee.<ref name="official">{{Cite press release |title=South Asian Football Federation (SAFF)'s Press Release |publisher=South Asian Football Federation |url=https://saffederation.org/south-asian-football-federation-saffs-press-release/ |access-date=13 August 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813103827/https://saffederation.org/south-asian-football-federation-saffs-press-release/ |archive-date=13 August 2021 |work=SAFF}}</ref><ref name="hosts">{{Cite news |title=Nepal loses the SAFF Championship hosting opportunity to the Maldives |publisher=Online Khabar English |url=https://english.onlinekhabar.com/nepal-loses-the-saff-championship-hosting-opportunity-to-the-maldives.html |url-status=live |access-date=11 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809133921/https://english.onlinekhabar.com/nepal-loses-the-saff-championship-hosting-opportunity-to-the-maldives.html |archive-date=9 August 2021}}</ref>

==Participating nations==
The [[Pakistan Football Federation]] was sanctioned by FIFA in April 2021, hence they were ineligible to participate in the competition.<ref>{{Cite news |title=FIFA suspends Chad and Pakistan football associations |publisher=FIFA |url=https://www.fifa.com/who-we-are/news/fifa-suspends-chad-and-pakistan-football-associations |url-status=live |access-date=7 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210407143916/https://www.fifa.com/who-we-are/news/fifa-suspends-chad-and-pakistan-football-associations |archive-date=7 April 2021}}</ref> Bhutan initially abstained from participation as their government refused to permit the national football team to travel abroad.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 July 2021 |title=সাফ ফুটবলে খেলবে না বলছে ভুটান |publisher=Daily Prothom Alo |url=https://www.prothomalo.com/sports/football/সাফ-ফুটবলে-খেলবে-না-বলছে-ভুটান |url-status=live |access-date=24 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725125252/https://www.prothomalo.com/sports/football/%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AB-%E0%A6%AB%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%96%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%9B%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%AD%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8 |archive-date=25 July 2021 |lang=bn}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=SAFF Championship 2021 Is In Limbo ! |publisher=Goal Nepal |url=https://goalnepal.com/news/detail/11281 |url-status=live |access-date=6 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210705064325/https://goalnepal.com/news/detail/11281 |archive-date=5 July 2021}}</ref> However, Bhutan's withdrawal was only confirmed when the fixtures were released on 18 August 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nepal begin SAFF Championship against hosts Maldives |url=https://the-anfa.com/news-detail/1230 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818115502/https://the-anfa.com/news-detail/1230 |archive-date=18 August 2021 |access-date=18 August 2021 |website=ANFA |publisher=All Nepal Football Association}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left;"
|-
! style="width:160px;"|Country
! style="width:100px;"|Appearance
! style="width:300px;"|Previous best performance
! [[FIFA World Rankings|FIFA ranking]]<br> 16 September 2021<ref name="rankings">{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/men?dateId=id13407|title=Men's Ranking|publisher=FIFA|access-date=16 September 2021|archive-date=16 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916105240/https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/men?dateId=id13407|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| {{fb|BAN}} || align=center|12th || '''Champions''' ([[2003 SAFF Gold Cup|2003]]) ||189
|-
| {{fb|IND}}||align=center|13th || '''Champions''' ([[1993 SAARC Gold Cup|1993]], [[1997 SAFF Gold Cup|1997]], [[1999 SAFF Gold Cup|1999]], [[2005 SAFF Gold Cup|2005]], [[2009 SAFF Championship|2009]], [[2011 SAFF Championship|2011]], [[2015 SAFF Championship|2015]]) ||107
|-
| {{fb|MDV}} ||align=center|11th || '''Champions''' ([[2008 SAFF Championship|2008]], [[2018 SAFF Championship|2018]]) ||158
|-
| {{fb|NEP}} ||align=center|13th || Third-Place ([[1993 SAARC Gold Cup|1993]]) ||168
|-
| {{fb|SRI}} ||align=center|13th || '''Champions''' ([[1995 SAARC Gold Cup|1995]]) ||205
|}

===Squads===
For the list of squads that appeared in the tournament, see [[2021 SAFF Championship squads]].

==Venue==
The [[National Football Stadium (Maldives)|National Football Stadium]] in capital [[Malé]] hosted all the matches.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! [[Malé]]
!rowspan=4|{{location map+| Maldives |float=center |width=100 |caption=| places={{Location map~|Maldives|lat=4.1740|long=73.5130|position=right|label=[[Malé]]}}
}}
|-
| [[National Football Stadium (Maldives)|National Football Stadium]]
|-
| Capacity: '''11,850'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=National Stadium Maldives |url=https://int.soccerway.com/teams/maldives/new-radiant/3856/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814165906/https://int.soccerway.com/teams/maldives/new-radiant/3856/ |archive-date=14 August 2018 |access-date=11 August 2021 |website=Soccerway}}</ref>
|-
| [[File:Rashmee Dhandu Stadium on a matchday of the 2021 SAFF Championship.jpg|200px]]
|}

==Officials==

;Referees
{{colbegin|colwidth=18em}}
*{{fbaicon|IRQ}} Yousif Saeed Hassan
*{{fbaicon|KUW}} Ammar Ashkanani
*{{fbaicon|KSA}} [[Majed Al-Shamrani]]
*{{fbaicon|SYR}} Feras Taweel
*{{fbaicon|TJK}} Sajëçon Zayniddinov
*{{fbaicon|UZB}} Akhrol Riskullaev
{{colend}}

;Assistant Referees
{{colbegin|colwidth=18em}}
*{{fbaicon|BAN}} Ahmed Sabah
*{{fbaicon|IRQ}} Ahmed Sabah Qasim Al-Baghadi
*{{fbaicon|KUW}} Yaquob Al-Mutairi
*{{fbaicon|KSA}} Omar Ali Al-Jamal
*{{fbaicon|SYR}} Mohamad Kazzaz
*{{fbaicon|TJK}} Farhod Kuralov
*{{fbaicon|UZB}} Husniddin Shodmonov
{{colend}}

==Group stage==
{{Hatnote|All times listed below are local, [[Time in Maldives|MVT]] ([[UTC+05:00]]).}}
After the suspension of [[Pakistan national football team|Pakistan]] and the withdrawal of [[Bhutan national football team|Bhutan]], the format was changed to a single group round robin format where the top two teams advance to the final.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mukherjee |first=Soham |date=9 September 2021 |title=SAFF Championship 2021: Everything you need to know |url=https://www.goal.com/en-in/news/all-you-need-to-know-saff-championship-2021-india-national/6r9qsaun8dn01c49l3i4f8qgz |access-date=13 September 2021 |website=Goal |archive-date=13 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913075500/https://www.goal.com/en-in/news/all-you-need-to-know-saff-championship-2021-india-national/6r9qsaun8dn01c49l3i4f8qgz |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Table===
<onlyinclude>{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WDL
|source=[https://int.soccerway.com/international/asia/south-asian-football-federation-championship/2020/group-stage/r50023/tables/ Soccerway]
|teamwidth=180


|name_BAN={{fb|BAN}}
|name_IND={{fb|IND}}
|name_MDV={{fb|MDV}}
|name_NEP={{fb|NEP}}
|name_SRI={{fb|SRI}}


|update=complete
|win_BAN=1|draw_BAN=2|loss_BAN=1|gf_BAN=3|ga_BAN=4
|win_IND=2|draw_IND=2|loss_IND=0|gf_IND=5|ga_IND=2
|win_MDV=2|draw_MDV=0|loss_MDV=2|gf_MDV=4|ga_MDV=4|status_MDV=H
|win_NEP=2|draw_NEP=1|loss_NEP=1|gf_NEP=5|ga_NEP=4
|win_SRI=0|draw_SRI=1|loss_SRI=3|gf_SRI=2|ga_SRI=5


|team_order = IND, NEP, MDV, BAN, SRI

|res_col_header=Q
|result1=FI |result2=FI
|col_FI=green1 |text_FI=Advance to the final

|class_rules=1) Points; 2) Head to Head; 3) Goal difference; 4) Goals scored<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sofascore.com/tournament/football/asia/saff-championship/2354|title=SAFF Championship 2021|work=SofaScore|access-date=6 October 2021}}</ref>
}}</onlyinclude>

===Matches===
{{football box
|id = Sri Lanka v Bangladesh
|date = {{start date|2021|10|1|df=y}}
|time = 16:00
|stadium = [[National Football Stadium (Maldives)|National Football Stadium]]
|location = [[Malé]]
|team1 = {{fb-rt|SRI}}
|team2 = {{fb|BAN}}
|score1 = 0
|score2 = 1
|goals2 = [[Topu Barman|Barman]] {{goal|56|pen.}}
|attendance = 2,500
|referee = Feras Taweel ([[Syrian Football Federation|Syria]])
|report = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2021/10/01/asia/south-asian-football-federation-championship/sri-lanka/bangladesh/3627850/
}}
{{football box
|id = Nepal v Maldives
|date = {{start date|2021|10|1|df=y}}
|time = 21:00
|stadium = National Football Stadium
|location = Malé
|team1 = {{fb-rt|NEP}}
|team2 = {{fb|MDV}}
|score1 = 1
|score2 = 0
|goals1 = [[Manish Dangi|Dangi]] {{goal|86}}
|attendance = 5,000
|referee = Akhrol Riskullayev ([[Uzbekistan Football Association|Uzbekistan]])
|report = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2021/10/01/asia/south-asian-football-federation-championship/nepal/maldives/3627849/
}}
----
{{football box
|id = Bangladesh v India
|date = {{start date|2021|10|4|df=y}}
|time = 16:00
|stadium = National Football Stadium
|location = Malé
|team1 = {{fb-rt|BAN}}
|team2 = {{fb|IND}}
|score1 = 1
|score2 = 1
|goals1 = [[Yeasin Arafat (footballer)|Arafat]] {{goal|74}}
|goals2 = [[Sunil Chhetri|Chhetri]] {{goal|26}}
|attendance =
|referee = [[Majed Al-Shamrani]] ([[Saudi Arabian Football Federation|Saudi Arabia]])
|report = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2021/10/04/asia/south-asian-football-federation-championship/bangladesh/india/3627851/
}}
{{football box
|id = Sri Lanka v Nepal
|date = {{start date|2021|10|4|df=y}}
|time = 21:00
|stadium = National Football Stadium
|location = Malé
|team1 = {{fb-rt|SRI}}
|team2 = {{fb|NEP}}
|score1 = 2
|score2 = 3
|goals1 =
*[[Marvin Hamilton|Hamilton]] {{goal|57}}
*[[Dillon De Silva|De Silva]] {{goal|90+4|pen.}}
|goals2 =
*[[Suman Lama|S. Lama]] {{goal|33}}
*[[Anjan Bista|Bista]] {{goal|51}}
*[[Ayush Ghalan|Ghalan]] {{goal|86}}
|attendance =
|referee = Ammar Ashkanani ([[Kuwait Football Association|Kuwait]])
|report = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2021/10/04/asia/south-asian-football-federation-championship/sri-lanka/nepal/3627852/
}}
----
{{football box
|id = India v Sri Lanka
|date = {{start date|2021|10|7|df=y}}
|time = 16:00
|stadium = National Football Stadium
|location = Malé
|team1 = {{fb-rt|IND}}
|team2 = {{fb|SRI}}
|score1 = 0
|score2 = 0
|attendance =
|referee = Sajëçon Zajniddinov ([[Tajikistan Football Federation|Tajikistan]])
|report = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2021/10/07/asia/south-asian-football-federation-championship/india/sri-lanka/3627853/
}}
{{football box
|id = Maldives v Bangladesh
|date = {{start date|2021|10|7|df=y}}
|time = 21:00
|stadium = National Football Stadium
|location = Malé
|team1 = {{fb-rt|MDV}}
|team2 = {{fb|BAN}}
|score1 = 2
|score2 = 0
|goals1 =
*[[Hamza Mohamed|Mohamed]] {{goal|55}}
*[[Ali Ashfaq|Ashfaq]] {{goal|74|pen.}}
|attendance =
|referee = Yousif Saeed Hassan ([[Iraq Football Association|Iraq]])
|report = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2021/10/07/asia/south-asian-football-federation-championship/maldives/bangladesh/3627854/
}}
----
{{football box
|id = Maldives v Sri Lanka
|date = {{start date|2021|10|10|df=y}}
|time = 16:00
|stadium = National Football Stadium
|location = Malé
|team1 = {{fb-rt|MDV}}
|team2 = {{fb|SRI}}
|score1 = 1
|score2 = 0
|goals1 =
*[[Ali Ashfaq|Ashfaq]] {{goal|6}}
|attendance = 5,000
|referee = [[Majed Al-Shamrani]] ([[Saudi Arabian Football Federation|Saudi Arabia]])
|report = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2021/10/10/asia/south-asian-football-federation-championship/maldives/sri-lanka/3627855/
}}
{{football box
|id = Nepal v India
|date = {{start date|2021|10|10|df=y}}
|time = 21:00
|stadium = National Football Stadium
|location = Malé
|team1 = {{fb-rt|NEP}}
|team2 = {{fb|IND}}
|score1 = 0
|score2 = 1
|goals2 = [[Sunil Chhetri|Chhetri]] {{goal|82}}
|attendance =
|referee = Yousif Saeed Hassan ([[Iraq Football Association|Iraq]])
|report = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2021/10/10/asia/south-asian-football-federation-championship/nepal/india/3627856/
}}
----
{{football box
|id = Bangladesh v Nepal
|date = {{start date|2021|10|13|df=y}}
|time = 16:00
|stadium = National Football Stadium
|location = Malé
|team1 = {{fb-rt|BAN}}
|team2 = {{fb|NEP}}
|score1 = 1
|score2 = 1
|goals1 = [[Sumon Reza|Reza]] {{goal|9}}
|goals2 = [[Anjan Bista|Bista]] {{goal|88|pen.}}
|attendance =
|referee = Akhrol Riskullaev ([[Uzbekistan Football Association|Uzbekistan]])
|report = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2021/10/13/asia/south-asian-football-federation-championship/bangladesh/nepal/3627857/
}}
{{football box
|id = India v Maldives
|date = {{start date|2021|10|13|df=y}}
|time = 21:00
|stadium = National Football Stadium
|location = Malé
|team1 = {{fb-rt|IND}}
|team2 = {{fb|MDV}}
|score1 = 3
|score2 = 1
|goals1 =
*[[Manvir Singh (footballer, born 1995)|M. Singh]] {{goal|33}}
*[[Sunil Chhetri|Chhetri]] {{goal|62||71}}
|goals2 = [[Ali Ashfaq|Ashfaq]] {{goal|45|pen.}}
|attendance = 5,000
|referee = Ammar Ashkanani ([[Kuwait Football Association|Kuwait]])
|report = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2021/10/13/asia/south-asian-football-federation-championship/india/maldives/3627858/
}}

==Final==

{{Football box
| id = Final
| date = {{Start date|2021|10|16|df=y}}
| time = 20:00
| team1 = {{fb-rt|IND}}
| score1 = 3
| team2 = {{fb|NEP}}
| score2 = 0
| goals1 =
*[[Sunil Chhetri|Chhetri]] {{goal|49}}
*[[Suresh Singh Wangjam|Wangjam]] {{goal|50}}
*[[Sahal Abdul Samad|Samad]] {{goal|90+1}}
| goals2 =
| stadium = National Football Stadium
| location = Malé
| attendance =
| referee = [[Majed Al-Shamrani]] ([[Saudi Arabian Football Federation|Saudi Arabia]])
| report = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2021/10/16/asia/south-asian-football-federation-championship/india/nepal/3627859/
}}

==Champion==
{{winners|fb|SAFF Championship 2021|India|Eighth}}

== Awards ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; margin:auto;"
!Most Valuable Player
!Top Scorer
!Fair Play
|-
|{{flagicon|IND}} [[Sunil Chhetri]]
|{{flagicon|IND}} Sunil Chhetri
|{{fb|MDV}}
|}

=== Goalscorers ===
{{goalscorers
|updated=|matches=11|goals=22|source=[https://int.soccerway.com/international/asia/south-asian-football-federation-championship/2020/group-stage/r50023/players/ Soccerway]


|5 goals=
*{{fbicon|IND}} [[Sunil Chhetri]]
|3 goals=
*{{fbicon|MDV}} [[Ali Ashfaq]]
|2 goals=
*{{fbicon|NEP}} [[Anjan Bista]]
|1 goal=
*{{fbicon|BAN}} [[Yeasin Arafat (footballer)|Yeasin Arafat]]
*{{fbicon|BAN}} [[Topu Barman]]
*{{fbicon|BAN}} [[Sumon Reza]]
*{{fbicon|IND}} [[Manvir Singh (footballer, born 1995)|Manvir Singh]]
*{{fbicon|IND}} [[Sahal Abdul Samad]]
*{{fbicon|IND}} [[Suresh Singh Wangjam]]
*{{fbicon|MDV}} [[Hamza Mohamed]]
*{{fbicon|NEP}} [[Manish Dangi]]
*{{fbicon|NEP}} [[Ayush Ghalan]]
*{{fbicon|NEP}} [[Suman Lama]]
*{{fbicon|SRI}} [[Dillon De Silva]]
*{{fbicon|SRI}} [[Marvin Hamilton]]
}}

== Prize money ==
Prize money amounts were announced in 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thesportsgrail.com/saff-championship-2021-awards-and-winners-prize-money-golden-boot-glove-best-player-of-the-tournament-and-fair-play-award/|title=SAFF Championship 2021 Awards And Winners|website=Sportsgrail|date=17 October 2021 |access-date=17 October 2021}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
!Position
!Amount ([[USD]])
|-
|Champions
|50,000
|-
|Runner-up
|25,000
|-
!Total
!75,000
|}

== Broadcasting rights ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Country !! Broadcaster<ref>{{cite web|url=https://khelnow.com/football/saff-championship-2021-fixtures-teams-results-telecast|title=SAFF Championship 2021: Fixtures, Results, Telecast and more|work=Khel Now|access-date=3 October 2021|archive-date=1 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001050128/https://khelnow.com/football/saff-championship-2021-fixtures-teams-results-telecast|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|Bangladesh}} || [[T Sports]]
|-
| {{flag|India}} || [[Eurosport (Indian TV channel)|Eurosport]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/article/telecast-details-for-indias-matches-in-saff-championship|title=Telecast details for India's matches in SAFF Championship|website=the-aiff.com|publisher=All India Football Federation|access-date=3 October 2021|archive-date=4 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211004153516/https://www.the-aiff.com/article/telecast-details-for-indias-matches-in-saff-championship|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|Maldives}} || Yes TV
|-
| {{flag|Nepal}} || [[DishHome|Action Sports]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://the-anfa.com/news-detail/1302|title=Nepal games in SAFF Championship to be broadcasted live in Action Sports|website=ANFA|publisher=All Nepal Football Association|access-date=4 October 2021|archive-date=4 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211004153516/https://the-anfa.com/news-detail/1302|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|Sri Lanka}} || Supreme TV and Football SriLanka TV
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{SAFF Championship}}
{{2021 in Asian football (AFC)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:SAFF Championship}}
[[Category:2021 SAFF Championship| ]]
[[Category:SAFF Championship tournaments|2021]]
[[Category:2021 in Asian men's international football]]
[[Category:International association football competitions hosted by the Maldives|2021]]
[[Category:October 2021 sports events in Asia]]
[[Category:Association football events postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic]]

2021 SAFF Championship - Revision history

Mohammad.Fahim at 03:06, 4 February 2026