Chittagong, April 8

Nepal will play against India in the quarter-final of the AFC Challenge Cup here at the MA Aziz Stadium on Sunday, with a hope to register their first victory in 13 years.

In their previous nine encounters, India has been the dominant force with Nepal winning only once in the sixth SAF Games in Dhaka in 1993. In the last encounter between these South Asian neighbours earlier this year, India defeated Nepal 2-1 in the fourth SAFF Championships in Karachi.

The task for Nepal, however, is not easy. Not only the odds against the youthful Indian team, Nepal will also have to beat the humid conditions in Chittagong, where temperature reaches upto 40 degrees celsius in day time.

Indian squad has almost all the players from Under-20 side and Nepal coach Shyam Thapa believes that his team will not be in trouble this time around.

“As they have a second-choice team playing in the tournament, I don’t think they can give us a hard time,” said Thapa, the former Indian national team striker. He also claimed that Nepal’s chance to win the match was over 80 per cent.

“My boys have realised that we entered the last eight from difficult situation and I think they will play confidently against India,” he added. Nepal entered the quarter-finals as Group ‘B’ runners-up, but only after Bhutan held Brunei to a goalless draw.

Thapa is bringing back Bikash Malla to guard the post after the MMC custodian lost the gloves to MPC’s Ritesh Thapa in a match against Sri Lanka. There will be no changes in the defence, with Lok Bandhu Gurung leading the pack along with wingers Sagar Thapa and Anjan KC. Tashi Chhiring will play as defensive midfielder.

Nabil Three Star trio Pradeep Maharjan, who has scored three goals so far, Vishan Gauchan and Vijay Gurung along with Army’s Raju Tamang will play in the midfield.

With striker Basanta Thapa in doubtful condition due to the thigh injury, coach Thapa was yet to decide on the forward line. “If Basanta gets fit to play till Sunday morning, Surendra Tamang will accompany him, otherwise I will go with Pradeep and Surendra,” he added. In that case, Rajesh Shahi will find his place in the midfield.

India coach Islam Urumadev was not ready to accept his team of second-choice. “We have young players in the team, and they have played with more enthusiasm,” he claimed.

The Uzbekistani coach accepted Nepal as a strong team, but was confident of his side’s win. “Our aim is play good football, rather than planning to reach a certain stage,” he said.

SL enter semis

CHITTAGONG: Group B toppers Sri Lanka defeated Taiwn 3-0 and entered the semi-finals of the inaugural Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup here at the MA Aziz Stadium.

Mohamed Izzadeen Mohamed Naufer, Sanjaya Pradeep Kumar and Jeewantha Dhammika Ratnayake scored for Sri Lanka. — Agencies