KATHMANDU: Nepal will play the opening match of SAFF U-18 Championship against the Maldives in Kathmandu today.

According to All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), the match will begin at the Nepal APF Club grounds in Halchowk at 3:00 pm.

A total of six teams are participating in the tournament. Defending champion Nepal, the Maldives and Bhutan are in Group A while Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India are in Group B of the tournament.

The Nepali football team led by Captain Jay Gurung and Coach Chet Narayan Shrestha comprises Goal Keepers Bishal Sunar, Surya Adhikari and Pujan Hona; Defenders Bishal Basnet, Ranadeep Paudel, Padam Bhattarai, Sujan Sharma, Nabin Gurung, Roshan Dong, Alik Rumba and Anjal Maharjan; Mid-fielders Jay Gurung, Sishir Lekhi, Roshan Rana Magar, Akash Budha Magar, Manish Thapa, Kushal Phuyal and Nitin Thapa; and Forwards Brijesh Chaudhary, Sachu Gurung, Kailash Lamichhane, Darsan Grung and Manish Dangi.