Host Nepal and Laos will vie in the final of the Prime Minister’s Three Nations Cup with their eyes on the trophy at the Dasharath Stadium on Friday.

Though Nepal defeated the visitors in the first match of the tournament played on March 22, they struggled against Bhutan on Tuesday before a last-minute goal from substitute forward Dipak Raj Singh Thakuri earned the hosts a 1-1 draw. It was the first occasion Nepal had played a draw against the South Asian side in almost four decades and in the 13th encounter between the two sides.

But Laos had edged Bhutan 2-1 on March 25 providing them a much-needed victory, the first among their last six games. They had lost four among five matches before playing a draw against Myanmar in the ASEAN Football Federation Championship played in December and January.

Nepal, meanwhile, defeated Bangladesh and Pakistan in international friendlies at home in September and November last year. But the home side are struggling due to the migration of dozens of national team regulars to Australia for a better future. Team Nepal are without the 12 key players who played international friendlies against Bangladesh and Pakistan.

“We have prepared well and it will be a great game. We are ready to get good results,” said Nepal’s newly appointed coach Vincenzo Alberto Annese at the pre-match conference. The Italian, who was appointed on March 1 and is undertaking his first assignment with the national team, faced harsh criticism following the draw against Bhutan.

“The final is final and getting results is essential,” Annese said. “We are physically and mentally ready for the game.”

Nepal captain Kiran Kumar Limbu said that his side expects tough challenges from the opponents. “The game is very important for us and we have a new and young squad,” he noted. “The match will be important to motivate our young players and build their confidence.”

Nepal will be without midfielder Pujan Uperkoti due to suspension as he was shown yellow cards in both games against Laos and Bhutan. Influential forward Anjan Bista, stretchered off against Laos in the second half due to back injury, is also in doubt for the final though coach Annese claimed that he was fit to play the final.

Similar to Nepal, the game will be crucial for them as they would be lifting their first silverware. “As far as I remember, Laos have not won silverware before. Should we win the final it will be a big achievement ,” Laos’ German coach Michael Weiss said, adding that they struggled in the first match against the home team because they played after long travel and higher altitude of Kathmandu and time differences. “The answer will be given tomorrow on the pitch. And then after 90 minutes, we see the result.”

Weiss went on, “It will be a big thing if we win the final. We can get more training camps and players get incentives.” Laos captain Soukaphone Vongchiengkham echoed him. “Our people in Laos are very excited for this match because we are playing away from home and we are under enormous pressure after losing past matches,” the captain said. “But we want to win and make the people proud.”

Nepal will have the advantage of a home ground and home crowd in the game and Laos coach Weiss believes that Nepal are big favourites. “But we want to try to make life hard for the home side as much as possible,” he said.

The match, however, will not be counted as an official international like the previous games of the tournament as it won’t fall under FIFA international window.