Butwal Lumbini FC on Friday unveiled their squad including three African players for the Nepal Super League, which is set to be held from April 24 to May 8 at the Dasharath Stadium.

The club said they have recruited Nigerian Kareem Omolaja, Ghana’s William Opoku and Chad’s Armad Beadum. Omolaja and Opoku have both played India’s I-League while Beadum had played for Chyasal Youth Club in the past.

The club’s managing director and former national captain Raju Kaji Shakya was hopeful the foreign recruits would boost the performance of the team in NSL. “They have the experience of playing in the I-League and Beadum has already played in Nepal,” said Shakya.

The Club’s president Rajkumar Timalsina claimed that Lumbini were one of the top title contenders. “We have set new strategies and already enrolled 18 among the 20 players,” he said adding, “now we will enroll the remaining two local players,” said Timalsina.

The first ever franchise football tournament of the country will feature seven teams including Biratnagar City FC, Kathmandu Rayzrs FC, Lalitpur City FC, FC Chitwan, Pokhara Thunders, Butwal Lumbini FC and Dhangadhi FC.

The tournament to be organised under technical support of the All Nepal Football Association will be played in the round robin format.