KATHMANDU: Nepali youth football team will face hosts Jordan in the Group A match of the AFC U-16 Championship Qualifiers at the Prince Mohammed Stadium in Zarka, Amman on Saturday.

Nepal’s coach Sunil Shrestha (right) shakes hands with his Jordanian counterpart Adnan Awad after the pre-match press conference in Amman on Friday, September 13, 2019. Photo courtesy: NSJF

Nepal, who finished runners-up behind India in the SAFF U-15 Championship last month, have been depleted after they lost skipper Pradeep Lamsal, Asim Rai and Ishwor Gurung due to over age following the results of MRI tests.

Coach Sunil Shrestha has handed the captain’s arm band to Jaan Tamli and the new skipper was confident of putting in their best. “The exclusion of three key players will definitely affect the team but we need to give 100 per cent if we are to qualify,” said Tamli on the eve of the match.

The pool also includes Kuwait, Tajikistan and Sri Lanka. Winners off all nine groups and best four runners-up across all pools will qualify for next year’s Championship.