Kathmandu, June 12
Nepal’s national football squad take on Yemen in their second match of the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, Group F. Nepal’s strategy against the physically fit Yemen squad will be to consolidate their defence and aim for a clean sheet against the visitors.
Nepal’s coach Koji Gyotoku said his squad, who were recently handed a 2-0 defeat by India in a friendly match last week, have worked on their defence strategy and as players from Yemen are expected to be taller than the Nepalis, he wants the players to keep the ball on the ground as much as possible.
Captain Biraj Maharjan says that the match against the West Asian side will be crucial for the home team. “Not losing at home helps ease pressure in any tournament,” says Maharjan. “Our strategy would be to first aim for a clean sheet and then go for the win,” he told mediapersons at the pre-match press conference organised by ANFA.
Similarly, Yemen’s coach Abrahim Mebratu said his side were looking for a win against Nepal. According to the coach, Yemen haven’t had a football league in the last three years due to an ongoing war. His side played against Egypt in Cairo recently before coming to Nepal. The Egyptian side edged Yemen 1-0 in the friendly.
Coach Mebratu said four of his players play abroad in leagues in Bahrain, Oman and Saudi Arabia and they would be instrumental in tomorrow’s game.
Nepal last played Yemen in 2014 in a friendly in Qatar. The Arab squad beat Nepal 2-0.
Yemen are currently second in the table in Group F after their win against Tajikistan. Nepal, who were beaten 4-1 by the Phillippines are at the bottom. Top two teams qualify for the Asian Cup, 2019.
Nepal will take on Tajikistan at home in September, travel to Tajikistan in October, host the Phillippines in November and play against Yemen in Qatar in March 2018.
Nepal team announced
Meanwhile, Nepal’s coach Koji Gyotoku announced a 23-member squad today itself.
Former skipper Anil Gurung has been called back to the team.
The 23 members of the team are:
Goalkeepers: Kiran Kumar Limbu, Bikesh Kuthu, Alan Neupane
Defenders: Biraj Maharjan, Ananta Tamang, Aaditya Chaudhary, Kamal Shrestha, Devendra Tamang, Jitendra Karki, Dinesh Rajbanshi, Man Bahadur Tamang
Midfielders: Sujal Shrestha, Bishal Rai, Rohit Chand, Anjan Bista, Hemanta Rana Magar, Rajendra Rawal, Heman Gurung, Sunil Bal
Strikers: Nawayug Shrestha, Anil Gurung, Bharat Khawas, Bimal Gharti Magar
