Nepal U20 head coach Yam Gurung has expressed confidence and readiness as his team prepares to compete in the SAFF U20 Championship 2025, which kicks off in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Speaking to the media ahead of the tournament, Coach Gurung said, “We have been training for one and a half months. This is a national team setup, and the girls have shown great dedication during the preparations.”

The tournament will feature just four teams—Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka—with defending champions India not participating this year. When asked about India's absence, Coach Gurung admitted, “It would have been better if India had played. It’s always interesting to play against them. But now, Bangladesh is our real opponent.”

Coach Gurung also extended gratitude to the host nation, saying, “Thank you to Bangladesh for hosting this event. We’re happy to be here and excited to play at the national stadium in Dhaka on natural turf—it’s always a great experience.”

Regarding the level of competition, Gurung showed sportsmanship and respect: “I respect all the teams. Every team has come here to compete, and we’re ready for the challenge.”

When asked if Nepal and Bangladesh are becoming arch-rivals in youth football, Gurung responded with a smile, “It would be fun to beat Bangladesh in Bangladesh.”

Nepal U20 will be looking to make a strong statement in the regional tournament and will face Bhutan in a key match that could set the tone for their campaign.