2009 SAFF Championship
The eighth South Asian Football Championship, officially South Asian Football Federation Cup 2009, held from 4 to 13 December in Bangladesh instead. Eight teams from the South Asian region played for the title of South Asia Master.
Although started only with a youth team (U -23), India was able to secure the championship for the fifth time. In the final, the Indians defeated the defending from the Maldives 3-1 in a penalty shootout.
Bangladesh set up the tournament after the fifth edition (2003) for the second time. At that time the national team of the host won the final against the Maldives on penalties. Originally this championship to be held in India, as set by the Indian Football Association to no definitive date and the tournament as requested by the other associations could not embarrassed to January 2010, Nepal and Bangladesh competed again to host the finals. The tense political situation between Pakistan and India after the Mumbai attacks appeared to be a reason for moving. End of August 2009 Bangladesh was finally appointed as the new host.
Groups
The eight participating teams were divided into two groups of four teams. In the group stage the teams in the league system each played once against each other. The group winners and the runner-up reached the semi-finals, the winners of the semi-finals wore the finale. A game for third place did not take place.
The draw for the groups took place at the Sheraton Hotel Dhaka on 3 October 2009. It disclosed the following groups: