Kuala Lumpur, February 20:

Nepal were drawn against tough opponents Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Palestine, Jordan and Yemen in the Group A of the AFC U-19 Championship 2010.

The qualifying round of the group is scheduled to be held in Kathmandu in November. The qualification draw was held at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) House in Malaysia.

The participating 42 teams were drawn into seven groups of six teams each. Four groups belong to the West Asia zone and three to the East, said the AFC on its website.

The winners and runners up of each group will make it to the main draw of the tournament, which will be held next year. The venue is yet to be decided. One best third-placed team each from the West and East zones will also qualify for the Finals.

Defending champions, the United Arab Emirates are in Group B along with Syria, Qatar, Bahrain, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. The runners up of the last edition, Uzbekistan drew Iran, Lebanon, Turkmenistan, Maldives and Pakistan in Group D.

Two-time winners Saudi Arabia will come face to face with Iraq, who won the title in 2000, Oman, Kuwait, India and Afghanistan in a finely-balanced Group C.

Likewise, the AFC also held the draw for the AFC U-16 Championship 2010. A total of 45 nations are taking part in the qualification tournament, scheduled for October 3-18.

In the U-16 tournament, Nepal drew defending champions Iran, Bahrain, Lebanon, Tajikistan and Maldives in Group B. The Group B matches will be held in Kathmandu in October. The last year’s runners up Korea Republic are in Group G along with Thailand, Vietnam, DPR Korea, Cambodia and Myanmar.