KATHMANDU: Nepal have been drawn in Group ‘A’ in the men’s football at the 11th South Asian Games slated for January 29 to February 9 next year in Dhaka.

Nepal were drawn in a relatively easy group against the hosts Bangladesh, Maldives and Bhutan while defending champions Pakistan, four-time winners India, last year’s runner-up Sri Lanka and Afghanistan are in Group ‘B’.

The draw was made in Dhaka

on Tuesday amidst representatives from Bangladesh, Maldives, Bhutan and Afghanistan. Nepal will open their campaign against the 1999 champions Bangladesh at the Bangabandhu

National Stadium on January 30, a day after an inaugural match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. All the Group ‘A’ matches, semi-finals and final will be held at the Bangabandhu Stadium while MA Aziz Stadium will host the Group ‘B’ matches.In the five-team women’s football, Nepal will play round-robin matches with Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Top two teams will make it to the February 8 final at the Bangabandhu National Stadium. Nepali women football team will open their campaign against Bangladesh on January 29.