The newly-appointed women’s team head coach Ananta Raj Thapa has named a 43-member preliminary squad for the upcoming international friendly football match against India.

According to the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), the national team training camp will begin from Tuesday. The Football governing body of the country on Sunday had announced Thapa as the head coach for the friendly against India.

The date for the friendly, however, has not been confirmed. The Nepal women’s football team is scheduled to visit India sometime between February 13 and 25.

It will be the first national team assignment for the Nepal Police Club head coach and former Nepali international midfielder. He will be assisted by Ganga Gurung, while Suraj Kumar Lama will team up with Thapa as the goalkeeping coach.

The national women’s team has been without a coach since September last year after Kumar Thapa parted company with ANFA following Nepal’s 3-1 loss to Bangladesh in the SAFF Championship final. The defeat was the first loss against Bangladesh in any competition, which also denied Nepal a place in history.

Preliminary squad: Amisha Karki, Amrita Jaishi, Anita Basnet, Anita KC, Anjali Waiba, Anjana Rana Magar, Anjila Tumbapo Subba, Anushka Sherpa, Bimala BK, Bimala Chaudhary, Chandra Bhandari, Dipa Neupane, Dipa Shahi, Ganga Gurung, Ghim Kumari Gurung, Gita Rana, Hima Chaudhary, Hira Kumari Bhujel, Kabita BK, Kabita Dhimal, Khusma Rai, Kusum Khatiwada, Manika Kuswar, Manjali Kumari Yonjan, Menuka Ale Magar, Nirmala BK, Nisha Thokar, Preeti Rai, Rashmi Kumari Ghising, Rekha Poudel, Renuka Nagarkote, Sabita Rana Magar, Sabitra Bhandari, Samiksha Ghimire, Sanju Kumal, Sapana Rai, Saraswati Hamal, Saraswati Ayer, Saru Limbu, Srijana Chemjong, Srijana Singh Thakuri, Sunita Chaudhary, Usha Nath.