Kathmandu, September 21.
Nepal has announced a 33-member preliminary squad for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup qualifiers against Vietnam. Head coach Matt Ross revealed the squad on Sunday during a program in the capital.
Nepal will play Vietnam twice in October as part of the qualification campaign. The first match is scheduled for October 9, while the second will take place on October 14. Initially, Nepal was set to host one of the fixtures at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu. However, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) deemed the venue technically unfit, compelling Nepal to look for an alternative.
Following a joint proposal from both federations, the AFC approved that the “home and away” fixtures between Nepal and Vietnam would instead be staged entirely in Vietnam. The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) confirmed the decision and simultaneously made the squad announcement public.
Blend of Experience and Youth
The preliminary list features a mix of seasoned campaigners and rising stars. Captain Kiran Chemjong, veteran midfielder Rohit Chand, and forwards such as Anjan Bista and Manish Dangi headline the squad. At the same time, several young players have been given opportunities, with Coach Ross expressing confidence that this combination will help strengthen the national team in the long term.
ANFA’s announced squad includes:
Abhishek Limbu, Aditya Shakya, Amit Lama, Ananta Tamang, Anjan Bista, Anzel Shrestha, Eric Bista, Ayush Ghalan, Bimal Pandey, Bishal Sunar, Dip Karki, Dinesh Henjan, Dipendra Bik, Dipesh Gurung, Gillespie Jung Karki, Kiran Chemjong, Kritis Ratna Chhajju, Kushal Deuba, Laken Limbu, Mani Lama, Manish Dangi, Nirajan Dhami, Rohit Chand, Rohan Karki, Samir Tamang, Samit Shrestha, Santosh Khatri, Subham Bam, Sushan Shrestha, Suman Shrestha, Sumit Shrestha, Tekendra Thapa, and Yogesh Gurung.
Tough Challenge Ahead
Vietnam is regarded as one of Asia’s rapidly improving football nations, having delivered consistent results on the international stage in recent years. This makes the upcoming clashes both a challenge and an opportunity for Nepal.
Coach Matt Ross, while announcing the squad, remarked: “We want to build a balanced team with both experienced and young players. The matches against Vietnam will be tough, but our aim is to perform well and strive for positive results.”
Training and Final Selection
The 33-member squad will now enter closed training, focusing on fitness, tactical awareness, and match readiness. After the training camp, the final squad of 23 players will be trimmed from the preliminary list.
ANFA’s Perspective
ANFA officials emphasized that the qualifiers are a crucial opportunity for Nepal’s football development. Despite losing the chance to play at home, they believe the experience abroad will help the players grow. ANFA’s president noted: “Though it is disappointing not to host the game in Kathmandu, we must look at this positively. Playing in Vietnam will provide our team with valuable exposure.”
With the October fixtures approaching, excitement is building among Nepali football fans. All eyes will be on how the national team performs against Vietnam, a formidable opponent in Asian football.
