New Delhi, Aug 6 (Inditop.com) Defending champions India will begin their campaign in the ONGC Nehru Cup football tournament against Palestine, a late replacement for Thailand.
All India Football Federation (AIFF) general-secretary Alberto Colaco told reporters here that Thailand were dropped after they had named an under-19 team for the event, starting Aug 19.
“We decided to replace the Thai team after they refused to send their national team and insisted on sending their under-19 players,” he said.
Lebanon (148th), India (156th) and Palestine (177) have been clubbed in Group A while last year’s runners-up Syria (95th), Sri Lanka (156th) and Kyrgyzstan (160th) are in Group B.
The top two teams from each group will play the semi-finals slated for Aug 27 and 28 while the final will be Aug 31. There will be one match every day, kicking off at 6.30 p.m.
Sponsors state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) said the winners will receive a prize money of $40,0000 while runners-up will get $20,0000. Man of the match in every game will get $300 and teams will get $500 for winning every match.
The schedule:
Group A: India, Lebanon, Palestine
Group B: Syria, Kyrgyzstan, Sri Lanka
Aug 19: India vs. Palestine
Aug 20: Syria vs. Sri Lanka
Aug 21: Palestine vs. Lebanon
Aug 22: Kyrgyzstan vs. Sri Lanka
Aug 23: India vs. Lebanon
Aug 24: Syria vs. Kyrgyzstan
Aug 27: 1st semi-final
Aug 28: 2nd semi-final
Aug 30: 3rd place match
Aug 31: Final
rounak