<p>India and Kuwait will play in the much anticipated SAFF 2023 Final on July 4. In their matchup with Kuwait, India will be attempting to win their eighth championship. Here you can find all the pertinent information on former winners, high scorers, recent developments, and athletes to keep an eye out for.</p>
<p>On July 4, at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru, the SAFF Championship 2023 Final will pit an enthusiastic India against Kuwait. The Blue Tigers, who have won eight championships overall (1993, 1997, 1999, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2021) and are the most successful team in the history of the sport, will attempt to retain their crown.</p>
<p><img decoding=”async” class=”alignnone wp-image-59324″ src=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/www.theindiaprint.com-india-vs-kuwait-in-the-saff-championship-2023-final-everything-you-need-to-know-about-indias-ninth-title-defense-images-13.jpg” alt=”” width=”1345″ height=”753″ srcset=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/www.theindiaprint.com-india-vs-kuwait-in-the-saff-championship-2023-final-everything-you-need-to-know-about-indias-ninth-title-defense-images-13.jpg 300w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/www.theindiaprint.com-india-vs-kuwait-in-the-saff-championship-2023-final-everything-you-need-to-know-about-indias-ninth-title-defense-images-13-150×84.jpg 150w” sizes=”(max-width: 1345px) 100vw, 1345px” /><br />
Sunil Chhetri, the senior captain and leading goal scorer for India this season, will be relied upon significantly. His five goals so far include a brilliant hat-trick against Pakistan. Igor Stimac’s team advanced to the championship game after playing some outstanding football in the group stage. In their debut game, they destroyed Pakistan 4-0 before defeating Nepal 2-0.</p>
<p>Kuwait, however, advanced to the championship match after being unbeaten throughout the league. The leading goal scorer for the club with the FIFA ranking of 141, Mobarak-Al-Faneeni, will be crucial. Over the course of four games, he scored twice.</p>
<p>The group stage match between the two finalists ended in a 1-1 tie.</p>
<p>Who were the past SAFF Championship winners?</p>
<p>In the championship’s 30-year history, India has consistently had a perfect record. Only once, in 2003, did they not get to the final. The South Asian squad has won eight times out of 13 competitions.</p>
<p>In a match versus India that went into overtime, Sri Lanka won the first SAFF Championship Final in 1993.</p>
<p>Afghanistan (2013), Bangladesh (1999), and the Maldives (2008, 2018) are the other nations to have won a tile in the tournament’s history.</p>
<p>Who scored the most goals in the 2023 SAFF Championship?</p>
<p>Sunil Chhetri, the star of India, leads the list of the tournament’s leading goal scorers with five goals. No player on the list of the top five goal scorers of the SAFF Championship 2023 has scored more than two goals, thus there is a definite gap between him and the other scorers. Hassan Maatouk, Khalil Bader of Lebanon, Mobarak Al-Faneeni of Kuwait, and Hamza Mohamed of the Madives have all scored two goals.</p>
<p>Chhetri is presently tied for first place on the all-time scores list with Ali Ashfaq of the Maldives. Both players have scored 23 goals.</p>
<p>What players need to be on the lookout for?</p>
<p>Without a shadow of a doubt, India’s captain Sunil Chhetri, who has five goals in four games, will be the key to their goal-scoring prospects. Sandesh Jinghan’s comeback will improve India’s defense. Due to his suspension, he was unable to play Lebanon in the semifinal. Anirudh Thapa’s offensive style of play in the midfield must be taken into consideration by Kuwait.</p>
<p>Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, the Indian goaltender, will serve as an example for the nation. In the 120 minutes of regular time that remained in the semifinal match versus Lebanon, he kept a spotless record. He made five significant saves that kept India’s hopes alive.</p>
<p>The dynamic winger Mobarak Al-Faneeni must be stopped by Stimac’s team in order to limit his scoring opportunities. He poses a significant danger to India’s defense with his quickness and razor-sharp crosses.</p>
<p>Igor Stimac is banned from the 2023 SAFF Championship Final.</p>
<p>Igor Stimac, the Indian team’s head coach, will miss the championship after the SAFF Disciplinary Committee handed him a two-match suspension. In the hosts’ last group encounter, a 1-1 draw with Kuwait, he was deemed to have argued with the referee and was given a red card. In addition, a $500 fine was imposed on him.</p>
<p>The Croatian was previously dismissed in India’s first match against Pakistan on June 21. However, the committee ultimately opted to pardon him under the guise of a “less serious” infraction.</p>
<p>In the championship match versus Kuwait on July 4, India’s assistant coach Mahesh Gawli would be in charge.</p>
