Nepal to play friendly against Bangladesh

LALITPUR: Nepali youth football team, which is preparing for the AFC U-23 Qualifiers, will play a friendly match against Bangladesh at the ANFA Complex grounds on July 11.

The All Nepal Football Association is hosting Bangladesh as a part of preparation for the qualifiers.

Nepal are in Group D along with hosts United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Lebanon. Nepal are slated to play against hosts UAE on July 15 before taking on Uzbekistan two days later. Nepal will face Lebanon on July 19.

Currently 30 players are in the training camp under coach Raju Kaji Shakya and assistant coach Prakash Aryal.

Bangladesh are in Group E along with Jordan, Tajikistan and Palestine.

A total of 39 participating teams have been divided into 10 groups for the qualifiers and all the group winners as well as five best second-placed teams will advance to the finals to be held in China next year.