Nepal take on Yemen today

Tashkent, November 7:

Nepal will take on Yemen in the AFC Under-19 Championship Football Group D qualifying match here today.

Nepal need an outright victory over Yemen to keep their hopes of qualifying for the next round alive. Nepal lost 2-0 against Jordan in their first league match on Tuesday. Nepali coach Raju Kaji Shakya and Nepali skipper Bikash Singh Chhetri know that they are in a do-or-die situation. “We are very alert as we know they (Yemen) are a very good team,” said Shakya.

Yemen lost against the hosts Uzbekistan 1-0 on Tuesday but despite the loss they have shown their potential. “We have been closely monitoring the Yemen-Uzbekistan match and it will help us tomorrow,” said Shakya. Shakya indicated he would field the same team that played against Jordan. “We will take the final decision tomorrow, though,” added Shakya. Skipper Chhetri said they would adopt an offensive game against Yemen. Assistant Nepali coach Megh Raj KC was also of the view that Nepal should play offensively.

Midfielder Anil Ojha looks set to play against Yemen despite injuring his knee on Tuesday. Ojha took part in the team practice and said that he feels fit to play.

Impressed by the Nepali performance, Yemen coach Abdullah Vhudail believed the match would be a competitive one. “The match is important for the both the teams,” he said adding that anyone could win the match.