The 14th edition of the SAFF Championship concluded on Tuesday with hosts India lifting their record ninth title by beating Kuwait in the final at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru.
The Blue Tigers beat the Kuwaitis 5-4 on penalties after the game ended in a 1-1 draw after extra time. This was their second consecutive SAFF Championship title.
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Which teams participate in SAFF Championship?
The SAFF Championship is a multi-nation football tournament that is competed by the countries that are managed by the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF). Currently, there are seven member nations of the SAFF, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Afghanistan joined the SAFF in 2005 and left the association in 2015 to become the founding member of the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA).
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Why did Indian football team play against Kuwait and Lebanon in SAFF Championship?
For the first time in the tournament's history, the organisers decided to invite guest nations to take part in the competition. With Sri Lanka serving a ban imposed by FIFA, they withdrew from the tournament and the organisers decided Kuwait and Lebanon to take part in the tournament.
The two West Asian countries made their debut in the tournament in 2023. While Lebanon reached the last-four stage, Kuwait reached the final on their maiden appearance. Both teams were handed defeats by India.
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Which is the most successful team in SAFF Championship's history?
India have won the most number of titles, winning it on nine occasions. They are followed by Maldives who have won twice.
| Team | Titles | Years |
|---|---|---|
| India | 9 | 1993, 1997, 1999, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2021, 2023 |
| Maldives | 2 | 2008, 2018 |
| Sri Lanka | 1 | 1995 |
| Bangladesh | 1 | 2003 |
| Afghanistan | 1 | 2013 |
