Koji finalises squad for Yemen clash

KATHMANDU: Nepal national football team head coach Gyotoku Koji on Tuesday has finalised a 20-member squad for upcoming AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers match against Yemen.

Nepal, who are already out of the qualifying race, is facing war-torn Yemen in the second leg match in Doha on March 27.

Japanese coach Koji has called up three goalkeepers, six defenders, eight midfielders and three forwards for his team's last match of the Qualifiers.

Indian I-league champion Kiran Chemjong has retained his place in the national team while Tribhuvan Army Club's Bikesh Kuthu and Alan Neupane of Ruslan Three Star are other goalies called up by Koji.

Likewise, Koji has recalled all the defenders who were part of the team that faced Tajikistan in last December. Defenders Dinesh Rajbanshi, Ananta Tamang, Aditya Chaudhary, Debendra Tamang, Rajin Dhimal and Biraj Maharjan all have cemented their places in the team.

Similarly, Koji have included Suman Lama, Anjan Bista, Sunil Bal, Sujal Shrestha, Hemanta Thapa Magar, Heman Gurung, Rohit Chand and Bishal Rai in the midfield department.

Bimal Gharti Magar and Army duo Nawayug Shrestha and George Prince Karki are the strikers of the team.

Nepal, pitted in the Group F of the Qualifiers, have two points from five matches. The Philippines are leading the table with nine points earned from five matches whereas Yemen and Tajikistan are in the second and third places respectively with seven points each. Two top teams will secure their berth in Asian Cup to be held in United Arab Emirates next year.