National football team coach Patrick Aussems has announced a final 20-member squad for the Saff Championship to be held in India from December 23.
Winger Nabin Lama and Goalkeeper Amrit Chaudhary are the new faces in the squad. Manang Marsyangdi Club’s striker Anil Gurung has been named the skipper of the team.
Coach Aussems informed that Rohit Chand and Biraj Maharjan are named the deputies to skipper Gurung. Gurung replaced Sagar Thapa who recently was banned in match-fixing scandal.
All Nepal Football Association (Anfa) had called 41 players for the preliminary squad. Nepal Army striker Bharat Khawas, Jhapa XI defender Devendra Tamang and MMC midfielder Shiva Shrestha pulled out of the squad due to injuries.
Nepal will play a friendly match against Bangladesh on December 17 in Dhaka.
Nepal has been grouped in Group A along with hosts India and Sri Lanka. Defending Champion Afghanistan, Maldives, Bangladesh and Bhutan are placed in the other group. Pakistan has pulled out the tournament citing internal issues.
Goalkeepers: Kiran Chemjong, Bikesh Kuthu and Amrit Chaudhary
Mid-fielders: Rohit Chand, Jagjeet Shrestha, Heman Gurung, Bikram Lama, Bishal Rai, Yogesh Gurung and Nabin Lama
7.12°C Kathmandu
