KATHMANDU: Defending champions Nepal will clash with Tajikistan in their first match in fifth Bangabandhu Gold Cup International Football Tournament slated for October 1-12 in Bangladesh.

Likewise, Nepal placed in Group A along with Palestine and Tajikistan will play against Palestine on October 5. Nepal agreed to participate in the competition after the Bangladesh Football Federation on Sunday released USD 25,000 entitled to Nepal for winning the previous edition of the tournament.

The Federation was under pressure to release the award amount after the All Nepal Football Association notified to the Federation that Nepal would fail to make it to the tournament until it gets the award amount, said the ANFA Secretary Indra Man Tuladhar. The Nepali team will leave for Bangladesh on October 1 to play the tournament.