The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) has announced a 20-man squad for two friendly matches against Bangladesh as part of their preparation for the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea next month.
Nepal will arrive in Dhaka on August 25 with the first friendly scheduled to be held a day later in the capital’s Army Stadium while the second and final match will take place on August 29 at Sylhet Zilla Stadium.
Nepal’s Polish head coach Jack Stefanowski named five senior players who are over 23 years old including captain Sagar Thapa. The compulsory age limit for the men’s teams in the Asian Games should be under 23 years of age with only three overaged players allowed in each squad which means the ANFA had to pick three players in their final squad from the quintet of defenders Bikram Lama, Sandip Rai, Biraj Maharjan, Sagar Thapa and forward Bhola Nath Silwal.
Nepal’s rising stars Bharat Khawas, Bimal Gharti Magar and Rohit Chand will not be touring Bangladesh but they will be part of the Asiad squad.
Seven players from Nepal’s 2013 Saff Championship squad are in the 20-man squad for the friendlies against Bangladesh while notable exclusions from that squad include Anil Gurung, Ju Manu Rai, Bharat and Rohit.
Nepal and Anderlecht Under-17 striker Bimal Magar will join the Asiad squad following the conclusion of the AFC U-16 Championship in Thailand.
Nepal goalkeeper Ritesh Thapa, who was in the Saff squad last year, will also travel with the squad as goalkeeping coach. Earlier, following the invitation of the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF), Nepal’s football governing body ANFA agreed to play two friendly matches in Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh skipper Mamunul Islam is hopeful of winning against Nepal in both the friendlies. “Everyone is fit and raring to go. Nepal is undoubtedly a good team but they are better when they play at their backyard. I hope it will be a good fight. We will get home advantage this time and hopefully we will beat them,” said the Sheikh Jamal midfielder yesterday.