Nepal’s hopes to progress into the third round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers suffered a huge setback after they lost to Yemen 2-0 at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu on Tuesday, thanks to second half goals from super-subs Omar Abdullah Al-Dahi and Mohammed Abdullah Al-Dahi.

Nepal were licking the wounds of a 4-0 away drubbing by the United Arab Emirates in their opening fixture of the Group H and were looking to bounce back in front of their home crowd.

Nepal coach Vincenzo Alberto Annese made three changes in the squad that lost to the UAE in Dubai last week, with Ananta Tamang starting after returning from injury and Arik Bista taking the midfield replacing injured Laken Limbu, while Dinesh Henjan took the place of Manish Dangi.

But they were lacklustre and clueless against a strong Yemen who controlled the game from the start, pinning Nepal down to their own half.

Yemen were not at their best as well. They too lacked composure and struggled to penetrate Nepali defence as both sides failed to create any clear chances at goal in a dull first half.

Yemen coach Miroslav Soukup sent Omar after the restart in search of a goal and it immediately paid dividends as the 23-year old forward forced Nepal captain and goalkeeper Kiran Kumar Limbu a save with a low shot.

Hishub Thapaliya, who substituted Henjan in the 56th minute, was gifted a golden opportunity four minutes after his arrival by Yemen goalkeeper Abdullah Abdulhakim Al-Sadi who misplaced a pass just in front of the box but Thapaliya failed to capitalise on it. It was the only chance Nepal had against Yemen.

Omar then punished Nepal for that mistake with a stunner in the 72nd minute, rounding off Nepali defenders before silencing the stadium with a left-footed scorcher from the edge of the box.

Soukup sent in attacking midfielder Mohammed Abdullah Al-Dahi in the final minutes looking to kill off the game and the playmaker put the result beyond doubt in the 90th minute, calmly chipping over goalkeeper Limbu.

The win will be a big relief to Yemen’s Czech coach Soukup, who side had lost their opening match to Bahrain 2-0 at the Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium in Abha, Saudi Arabia.

For Nepal, it is their second defeat in as many matches and a continuation of their disappointing performance in the international arena under the Italian coach who took the helm eight months ago and is still experimenting with the players as a result of the exodus of Nepali footballers to Australia.

But Annese will have four months to solve the puzzle and refill the mojo back in the Nepali football team who next host Bahrain on March 21 next year.

A total of 36 teams—divided into nine groups of four teams— are competing in the second round. The teams will play against each other on a home-and-away basis, with nine group winners and group runners-up securing their place in the third round of the World Cup qualifiers and automatic berths to the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.

Nepal host Bahrain at the Dasharath Stadium on March 21 next year.