2009 SAFF Championship

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The 2009 South Asian Football Federation Championship was hosted by Bangladesh from 4 to 13 December 2009. Bangladesh was awarded to host the tournament after the withdrawal of original hosts India.^[1]^[2]^[3]

After India's reluctance to host the tournament, in May 2009, at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Congress in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) president Kazi Salahuddin on his return from the AFC Congress informed that although India were still retaining their status as hosts of the championship, Bangladesh and Nepal had turned in fresh bids in anticipation of staging this prestigious eight-nation meet.

A decision was taken at the FIFA Congress in Bahamas in the first week of June^[4] but no announcement was officially made. In July, with the tournament drawing ever closer, media reports once again suggested that the tournament would be moved once again to Bangladesh, as Pakistan would struggle to obtain visas if the tournament is hosted in India.^[5]

On 31 August 2009, it was reported that the tournament would be held in Bangladesh, after the Indian football association (AIFF) had its annual congress at the end of August. This was formally confirmed by the AFC on 10 September through a press release.^[6]

Venue

The Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka was the only venue for the tournament. It is also home venue for Bangladesh national football team.

Dhaka
Bangabandhu National Stadium
Capacity: 36,000
File:Bangabandhu National Stadium 1 by Farsad.JPG

Squads

Template:Main article

Draw

The draw for the tournament was made on 3 October 2009.^[7] India took part with their U-23 team^[8]

Group A	Group B
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(1949-1956).svg	flag alias-1956 = Flag of Bhutan (1956–1969).svg	flag alias-army = Flag of the Royal Bhutan Army.svg	link alias-army = Royal Bhutan Army	size =	name =	variant =	altlink = national football team }} (unseeded) {{ Template:Yesno	alias = Pakistan	flag alias = Flag of Pakistan.svg	flag alias-army = Flag of the Pakistani Army.svg	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Pakistan.svg	flag alias-navy=Naval Standard of Pakistan.svg	flag alias-air force = Air Force Ensign of Pakistan.svg	flag alias-military = Armed Forces of Pakistan Flag.svg	link alias-military = Pakistan Armed Forces	flag alias-civil = Civil Ensign of Pakistan.svg	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} (unseeded) {{ Template:Yesno	alias = Sri Lanka	flag alias = Flag of Sri Lanka.svg	flag alias-army=Flag of the Sri Lankan Army.png	link alias-army=Sri Lanka Army	flag alias-air force=Air Force Ensign of Sri Lanka.svg	link alias-air force=Sri Lanka Air Force	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Sri Lanka.svg	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Sri Lanka.svg	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} (2nd seed)

Group stage

Group A

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Group B

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Knockout stage

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Semi-finals

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Final

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Champion

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