Bibiano Fernandes Dedicates SAFF U19 Title to Arunachal Pradesh Fans

Pratiksha Ghosh 

Yupia, May 20 2025: India U19 head coach Bibiano Fernandes has lauded his team’s resilience and composure after they clinched the SAFF U19 Championship title in a dramatic penalty shootout win over Bangladesh at the Golden Jubilee Stadium on May 18.

The final, a tense affair that ended in a draw at the end of regulation time, was decided by penalties—where goalkeeper Suraj Singh Aheibam emerged as a hero. Fernandes praised his side’s mental strength and preparation during the high-pressure moment.

“We always knew it would be a tough final. Bangladesh put up a strong fight, but our boys showed great character,” Fernandes said during the post-match press conference. 

He further added that “Our preparation paid off. Suraj has been brilliant in training and I had full faith he would rise to the occasion.”

Fernandes, who secured his fourth SAFF title as U19 coach, dedicated the victory to the enthusiastic fans in Arunachal Pradesh. “The atmosphere here was incredible. I’ve never seen such support for a junior match in India. The fans were a huge part of this win,” he said.

He also expressed hope that such events would inspire more young talent from the region, citing local star Omang Dodum as an example. 

The team now shifts focus to the AFC U20 Asian Cup Qualifiers next year, with Fernandes optimistic about India’s long-term prospects about which he says “India has the talent. With the right development, we will get closer to our World Cup dream.”