Nepali national football team will begin their SAFF Championship taking on hosts Maldives in the tournament opener on October 1.

According to the fixtures released by the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) on Wednesday, Nepal will vie against Sri Lanka on October 3, India on October 8 before playing their final league round match against Bangladesh on October 10.

The top two finishers of the league stage will compete in the final on October 13. All the games will be played at the National Football Stadium in Male.

Among seven members of the SAFF, Pakistan are ineligible to compete in the event due to FIFA suspension while Bhutan withdrew their participation.

Nepal are currently in closed camp training in Pokhara to prepare for the Championship under Kuwaiti coach Abdullah Almutairi. Nepal have never progressed beyond semi-final in the tournament and it will be the second occasion the biennial tournament will be played in the league format after the inaugural edition in 1993.

India are the most successful team lifting the title on seven occasions.