Defending champions Bangladesh will attempt to win a third consecutive SAFF Women’s Championship when they face India in the final at New Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Saturday.

Their campaign has included a 3-0 group-stage defeat to the same opponents, while India have been unbeaten, scoring 14 goals in the group phase and edging Bhutan 1-0 in the semi-finals under head coach Crispin Chettri. India is targeting a record-extending sixth title.

Captain Maria Manda said Bangladesh would not be burdened by the occasion. “We’ve reached the final and got the opportunity. Now we want to make the best use of it,” she told a pre-match press conference. “We’re not putting ourselves under too much pressure because we’ve played against India before and know them well. Our goal is to compete strongly against them and give our best on the field.”

Manda acknowledged India’s strength but said the squad was drawing on the experience of winning finals in Nepal in 2022 and 2024. “Mentally, we’re preparing ourselves for every possible situation,” she added.

The final is the first between the two sides since 2016. India had won five consecutive championships before failing to reach the final in the previous two editions, both won by Bangladesh with victories over Nepal.

Bangladesh named a 23-player squad including Manda, goalkeeper Rupna Chakma and forward Tohura Khatun.

Bangladesh squad: Rupna Chakma, Mile Akter, Swarna Rani Mandal, Halima Akter, Sheuli Azim, Afeida Khandakar, Surma Jannat, Kohati Kisku, Surovi Akter, Shamsunnahar (Sr.), Unnoti Khatun, Arpita Biswas, Momita Khatun, Maria Manda, Monika Chakma, Shaheda Akter Ripa, Ritu Porna Chakma, Umehla Marma, Sagarika, Tohura Khatun, Anika Rania Siddique, Sauravi Akanda Prity and Shamsunnahar (Jr.).