Stoutsanitaryware at 16:43, 5 May 2026

2026-05-05T16:43:26Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox football match
| title = 2023 SAFF Championship final
| image = File:Sree Kanteerava Stadium.jpg
| caption = The [[2023 SAFF Championship]] final match held at this stadium.
| event = [[2023 SAFF Championship]]
| team1 = [[Kuwait national football team|Kuwait]]
| team1association = {{flagdeco|Kuwait|size=30px}}
| team1score = 1
| team2 = [[India national football team|India]]
| team2association ={{flagdeco|India|size=30px}}
| team2score = 1
| details = '''After [[overtime (sports)|extra time]] India won 5–4 on [[Penalty shoot-out (association football)|penalties]]'''
| date = {{start date|2023|07|04|df=y}}
| stadium = [[Sree Kanteerava Stadium]]
| city = [[Bengaluru]]
| man_of_the_match1a =
| referee = Prajwal Chhetri ([[All Nepal Football Association|Nepal]])
| attendance = 26,380
| weather =
| previous = [[2021 SAFF Championship#Final|2021]]
| next = 2026
}}

The '''2023 SAFF Championship final''' was the final match of the [[2023 SAFF Championship]]. It took place on 4 July 2023 at the [[Bangalore]], [[Karnataka]].<ref name=SPBK>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=21 June 2023 |title=Bashundhara Toiletries Limited becomes title sponsor of SAFF Championship 2023 |url=https://www.daily-sun.com/post/696273/Bashundhara-Toiletries-Limited-becomes-title-sponsor-of-SAFF-Championship-2023 |access-date=21 June 2023 |website=daily-sun.com|archive-date=22 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230622031615/https://www.daily-sun.com/post/696273/Bashundhara-Toiletries-Limited-becomes-title-sponsor-of-SAFF-Championship-2023|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chatterjee |first=Triyasha |date=2023-05-15 |title=SAFF Championship 2023 Draw on May 17, Indian Football Team eye consecutive titles - Follow SAFF 2023 LIVE |url=https://www.insidesport.in/saff-championship-2023-draw-on-may-17-indian-football-team-eye-consecutive-titles-follow-saff-2023-live/ |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=www.insidesport.in |language=en-US}}</ref> It was announced that the matches during the tournament, including the final, would take place at the [[Sree Kanteerava Stadium]]. India defeated Kuwait on penalty-shootouts after the match ended in a 1–1 draw after extra time.<ref>{{cite news |date=16 October 2021 |title=SAFF Championship 2021 Final: India defeats Nepal 3-0 to lift title for the eighth time |work=[[Sportstar]] |publisher=[[The Hindu]] |agency=[[Press Trust of India]] |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/saff-championship-2021-final-india-nepal-chhetri-indian-football-news/article37024014.ece |url-status=live |access-date=28 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201103340/https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/saff-championship-2021-final-india-nepal-chhetri-indian-football-news/article37024014.ece |archive-date=1 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Rawat |first1=Akhil |title=Double, double toil and treble: Blue Tigers bask in SAFF C'ship glory|publisher=AIFF|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/article/double-double-toil-and-treble-blue-tigers-bask-in-saff-cship-glory |access-date=12 July 2023|date=5 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230712113849/https://www.the-aiff.com/article/double-double-toil-and-treble-blue-tigers-bask-in-saff-cship-glory|archive-date=12 July 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Venue==
On 19 March 2023, it was announced that the matches during the tournament, including the final, would take place at the [[Sree Kanteerava Stadium]] in [[Bengaluru]], [[Karnataka]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bengaluru to host 2023 SAFF Championship |url=https://www.the-aiff.com/article/bengaluru-to-host-2023-saff-championship |access-date=2023-03-19}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! width="20px" |[[Bangalore]]
! rowspan="5" |{{Location map+ |India|width=240 |float=center |caption= |places=
{{Location map~ |India |lat=12.9697|long=77.5934|position=right |label='''[[Bangalore]]'''}}
}}
|-
|{{nowrap|[[Sree Kanteerava Stadium]]}}
|-
|{{Coord|12|58|10.92|N|77|35|36.24|E|region:ZA_type:landmark|display=inline|name=Bangalore}}
|-
| Capacity: '''25,810'''
|-
|[[File:Sree Kanteerava Stadium.jpg|250x150px|alt=Aerial view Sree Kanteerava Stadium]]
|}

==Route to the final==
Kuwait played their first match against Nepal and won it 3–1.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/sports/kuwait-dominates-nepal-with-a-3-1-victory-in-saff-football-2023|title=Kuwait dominates Nepal with a 3-1 victory in SAFF Championship 2023}}</ref> In their second game of the group stage they defeated Pakistan 4–0.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/football/saff-championship-pakistan-get-thrashed-by-kuwait-4-0-in-one-sided-contest-8164441.html|title=SAFF Championship: Pakistan Get Thrashed by Kuwait 4-0 in One-sided Contest}}</ref> Kuwait's last outing was against hosts India with the match ending in a 1–1 draw.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/football/saff-championship-2023-anwar-alis-own-goal-cancels-sunil-chhetri-strike-as-india-draw-with-kuwait-101687886243049.html|title=SAFF Championship 2023: Anwar Ali's own goal cancels Sunil Chhetri strike as India draw with Kuwait}}</ref> The opponent for Kuwait in semi-final was Bangladesh, whom they defeated by a narrow margin of 1–0 in the extra time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tbsnews.net/sports/bangladeshs-saff-dream-shattered-after-1-0-defeat-kuwait-semifinal-658458|title=Bangladesh's Saff dream shattered after 1-0 defeat to Kuwait in semifinal}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/sports/football/news/we-deserved-win-cabrera-3358796|title=We deserved to win: Cabrera}}</ref>

The Hosts started their campaign against Pakistan with a resounding 4–0 win.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jun/26/pakistan-india-football-south-asian-cup|title=India v Pakistan is not a classic football rivalry. But it could be|newspaper=The Guardian |date=26 June 2023 |access-date=27 December 2023 |last1=Duerden |first1=John }}</ref> [[Sunil Chhetri]] scored his fourth international hat-trick and [[Udanta Singh Kumam|Udanta Singh]] scored the fourth goal.<ref name="chhetrihattrick4AIFF">{{cite web |last1=Rawat |first1=Akhil |title=A Diamond is Forever: Super Sunil's hat-trick sinks Pakistan|publisher=AIFF|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/article/a-diamond-is-forever-super-sunils-hat-trick-sinks-pakistan |access-date=21 June 2023|date=21 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230621175231/https://www.the-aiff.com/article/a-diamond-is-forever-super-sunils-hat-trick-sinks-pakistan|archive-date=21 June 2023|url-status=live}}</ref> In the next match they saw of Nepal by 2–0 and the final match of the group stage against Kuwait resulted in a 1–1 stalemate.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/sport/football/india-vs-nepal-2-0-saff-championship-2023/article67006429.ece|title=India downs Nepal 2-0 to enter SAFF Championship 2023 semifinals}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/football/saff-championship-2023-anwar-alis-own-goal-cancels-sunil-chhetri-strike-as-india-draw-with-kuwait-101687886243049.html|title=SAFF Championship 2023: Anwar Ali's own goal cancels Sunil Chhetri strike as India draw with Kuwait}}</ref> In the semi-final India locked horns with Lebanon and won on penalty shootout after the game ended in a goal less draw.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/football/saff-championship-india-beat-lebanon-on-penalties-enter-final-101688234673392.html|title=SAFF Championship: India beat Lebanon on penalties, enter final}}</ref>

{| style="width:100%;text-align:center"
|- style="vertical-align:top;background:#9cf"
!colspan=2 style="width:1*"|{{fb|Kuwait}}
!Round
!colspan=2 style="width:1*"|{{fb|IND}}
|- style="vertical-align:top;background:#c1e0ff"
|Opponent
|Result
|| [[2023 SAFF Championship#Group phase|Group stage]]
|Opponent
|Result
|-
|{{fb|Nepal}}
|[[2023 SAFF Championship#Group A|1–3]]
|style="background:#c1e0ff"| Match 1
|{{fb|PAK}}
|[[2023 SAFF Championship#Group A|0–4]]
|-
|{{fb|Pakistan}}
|[[2023 SAFF Championship#Group A|0–4]]
|style="background:#c1e0ff"| Match 2
|{{fb|NEP}}
|[[2023 SAFF Championship#Group A|0–2]]
|-
|{{fb|India}}
|[[2023 SAFF Championship#Group A|1–1]]
|style="background:#c1e0ff"| Match 3
|{{fb|KUW}}
|[[2023 SAFF Championship#Group A|1–1]]
|-
|colspan="2" style="text-align:center"|

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!width="175"|Team
!width="20"|{{Tooltip|Pld|Played}}
!width="20"|{{Tooltip|W|Won}}
!width="20"|{{Tooltip|D|Drawn}}
!width="20"|{{Tooltip|L|Lost}}
!width="20"|{{Tooltip|GF|Goals for}}
!width="20"|{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}}
!width="20"|{{Tooltip|GD|Goal difference}}
!width="20"|{{Tooltip|Pts|Points}}
|- style="background:#cfc"
|align=left|'''{{fb|Kuwait}}'''
|'''3'''||'''2'''||'''1'''|| '''0'''||'''8'''||'''2'''||'''+6''' ||'''7'''
|- style="background:#cfc"
|align=left|{{fb|India}}
|3||2||1||0||7||1||+6||'''7'''
|-
|align=left|{{fb|Nepal}}
|3||1||0||2||2||5||−3||3
|-
|align=left|{{fb|Pakistan}}
|3||0||0||3||0||9||−9||0
|}
|style="background:#c1e0ff"| Final standings
|colspan="2" style="text-align:center"|
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!width="175"|Team
!width="20"|{{Tooltip|Pld|Played}}
!width="20"|{{Tooltip|W|Won}}
!width="20"|{{Tooltip|D|Drawn}}
!width="20"|{{Tooltip|L|Lost}}
!width="20"|{{Tooltip|GF|Goals for}}
!width="20"|{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}}
!width="20"|{{Tooltip|GD|Goal difference}}
!width="20"|{{Tooltip|Pts|Points}}
|- style="background:#cfc"
|align=left|{{fb|Kuwait}}
|3||2||1|| 0||8||2||+6||'''7'''
|- style="background:#cfc"
|align=left|'''{{fb|India}}'''
|'''3'''||'''2'''||'''1'''||'''0'''||'''7'''||'''1'''||'''+6'''||'''7'''
|-
|align=left|{{fb|Nepal}}
|3||1||0||2||2||5||−3||3
|-
|align=left|{{fb|Pakistan}}
|3||0||0||3||0||9||−9||0
|}

|- style="vertical-align:top;background:#c1e0ff"
|Opponent
|Result
|| {{nowrap|[[2023 SAFF Championship#Knockout stage|Knockout stage]]}}
|Opponent
|Result
|-
|{{fb|Bangladesh}}
|[[2023 SAFF Championship#Semi-finals|0–1]] {{aet}}
|style="background:#c1e0ff"| [[2023 SAFF Championship#Semi-finals|Semi-finals]]
|{{fb|LBN}}
|[[2023 SAFF Championship#Semi-finals|0–0]] {{pso|2–4}}
|}

==Match==
{{Football box
| date = {{Start date|2023|7|4|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/37075/India_Kuwait.html|title=India vs Kuwait 2023}}</ref>
| time = 19:30
| team1 = {{fb-rt|KUW}}
| score = 1–1
| aet = y
| report = https://web.archive.org/web/20230705091149/https://saffederation.org/uploads/64a46456995f9.pdf
| team2 = {{fb|IND}}
| goals1 =
*[[Shabib Al-Khaldi|Khaldi]] {{goal|14}}
| goals2 =
*[[Lallianzuala Chhangte|Chhangte]] {{goal|36}}
| penaltyscore = 4–5
| penalties1 =
*[[Mohammad Daham|Daham]] {{penmiss}}
*Otaibi {{pengoal}}
*[[Ahmed Al-Dhefiri|Dhaferi]] {{pengoal}}
*Naji {{pengoal}}
*[[Shabaib Al-Khaldi|Khaldi]] {{pengoal}}
*[[Khalid El Ebrahim|Khalid]] {{penmiss}}
| penalties2 =
*{{pengoal}} [[Sunil Chhetri|Chhetri]]
*{{pengoal}} [[Sandesh Jhingan|Jhingan]]
*{{pengoal}} [[Lallianzuala Chhangte|Chhangte]]
*{{penmiss}} [[Udanta Singh|Udanta]]
*{{pengoal}} [[Subhasish Bose|S. Bose]]
*{{pengoal}} [[Naorem Mahesh Singh|Mahesh]]
| stadium = Sree Kanteerava Stadium
| location = Bangalore
| attendance = 26,380
| referee = Prajwal Chhetri ([[All Nepal Football Association|Nepal]])
}}
{| width=92% |
|-
|{{Football kit
| pattern_la = _adidascampeon25rb
| pattern_b = _adidascampeon25rb
| pattern_ra = _adidascampeon25rb
| pattern_sh = _adidastirocm24tr
| pattern_so = _color_3_stripes_white
| leftarm = 0000FF
| body = 0000FF
| rightarm = 0000FF
| shorts = 0000FF
| socks = 0000FF
| title = {{nowrap|Kuwait}}
}}
|{{Football kit
| pattern_la = _ind2425a
| pattern_b = _ind2425a
| pattern_ra = _ind2425a
| pattern_sh = _ind2425a
| pattern_so =
| leftarm = FF6607
| body = FF6607
| rightarm = FF6607
| shorts = FF6607
| socks = FF6607
| title = {{nowrap|India}}
}}
|}
{| width="100%"
|valign="top" width="50%"|
{| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
|colspan="4"|
|-
!width="25"| !!width="25"| !!width="200"| !!
|-
| |||| Abdulrahman Kameel
|-
| || || [[Hassan Al-Enezi]] {{suboff|28}}
|-
| || || [[Khalid El Ebrahim]]
|-
| || || [[Hamad Al-Qallaf]] {{yel|60}} {{suboff|87}}
|-
| || || [[Abdullah Ammar]] {{yel|46}} {{suboff|91}}
|-
| || || [[Redha Abujabarah]] {{yel|41}} {{suboff|87}}
|-
| || || [[Mohammad Daham]] {{yel|66}}
|-
| || || [[Sultan Al Enezi]] {{suboff|99}}
|-
| || || [[Shabaib Al-Khaldi]]
|-
| || || [[Ahmed Al-Dhefiri]] {{yel|46}}
|-
| || || [[Mobarak Al-Faneeni]] {{suboff|69}}
|-
|colspan=3|'''Substitutes:'''
|-
| |||| [[Hamad Al-Harbi]] {{subon|28}}
|-
| |||| [[Eid Al-Rashidi]] {{subon|69}}
|-
| |||| [[Mahdi Dashti]] {{subon|87}}
|-
| |||| Fawaz Ayedh Al-Otaibi {{subon|87}}
|-
| |||| Abdullah Ghanim Al-Fahad {{subon|91}} {{yel|115}}
|-
| |||| Abdulaziz Naji Mahran {{subon|99}} {{yel|120}}
|-
|colspan=4|'''Manager:'''
|-
|colspan="4"|{{flagicon|POR}} [[Rui Bento]]
|}
|valign="top" width="50%"|
{| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"
|colspan="4"|
|-
!width="25"| !!width="25"| !!width="200"| !!
|-
| |||| [[Gurpreet Singh Sandhu]]
|-
| || || [[Anwar Ali (footballer, born 2000)|Anwar Ali]] {{suboff|35}}
|-
| || || [[Sandesh Jhingan]] {{yel|28}}
|-
| || || [[Akash Mishra]] {{suboff|113}}
|-
| || || [[Nikhil Poojari]]
|-
| || || [[Anirudh Thapa]] {{suboff|72}}
|-
| || || [[Ashique Kuruniyan]] {{yel|65}} {{suboff|72}}
|-
| || || [[Jeakson Singh Thounaojam]]
|-
| || || [[Sunil Chhetri]]
|-
| || || [[Sahal Abdul Samad]] {{suboff|90}}
|-
| || || [[Lallianzuala Chhangte]]
|-
|colspan=3|'''Substitutes:'''
|-
| |||| [[Mehtab Singh (footballer)|Mehtab Singh]] {{subon|35}}
|-
| |||| [[Mahesh Singh Naorem]] {{subon|72}}
|-
| |||| [[Rohit Kumar (footballer)|Rohit Kumar]] {{subon|72}} {{yel|74}}
|-
| |||| [[Udanta Singh]] {{subon|90}}
|-
| |||| [[Subhasish Bose]] {{subon|113}}
|-
|colspan=4|'''Manager:'''
|-
|colspan="4"|[[Mahesh Gawli]]{{efn|[[Igor Stimac]] was suspended so his assistant coach Mahesh Gawli took charge for this match.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://adhadhu.com/39606|title=SAFF Championship: Gawli expects tough final against Kuwait}}</ref>}}
|}
|}
{| style="width:100%;font-size:90%"
|-
|style="width:50%;vertical-align:top"|

'''Assistant referees:'''
 Nani Ram Thapa Magar ([[All Nepal Football Association|Nepal]])
 Ahmed Hassan ([[Football Association of Maldives|Maldives]])
 '''Fourth official:'''
 Pema Tshewang ([[Bhutan Football Federation|Bhutan]])
 '''Match commissioner:'''
 Mindu Dorji ([[Bhutan Football Federation|Bhutan]])
 '''Referee assessor:'''
 Suresh Srinivasan ([[All India Football Federation|India]])
|}

'''Match rules'''
*90 minutes
*30 minutes of [[Overtime (sports)#Association football|extra time]] if necessary
*[[Penalty shoot-out (association football)|Penalty shoot-out]] if scores still level
*Maximum of fifteen named substitutes
*Maximum of five substitutions, with a sixth allowed in extra time{{refn|group=note|Each team was given only three opportunities to make substitutions, with a fourth opportunity in extra time, excluding substitutions made at half-time, before the start of extra time and at half-time in extra time.}}
*Maximum of one [[Concussion substitute (association football)|concussion substitution]]

==See also==
{{trim|{{#section-h:2023 SAFF Championship|See also}}}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{SAFF Championship}}
{{India national football team}}
{{Kuwait national football team}}

[[Category:2023 SAFF Championship|final]]
[[Category:SAFF Championship finals]]
[[Category:India national football team matches]]
[[Category:Kuwait national football team matches]]
[[Category:July 2023 sports events in India|SAFF]]
[[Category:India–Kuwait sports relations|2023]]

2023 SAFF Championship final - Revision history

Stoutsanitaryware at 16:43, 5 May 2026