Nepal’s highly anticipated World Cup Qualifier against Bahrain will no longer take place on home soil. The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) was forced to relocate the match due to the unsatisfactory condition of the Dashrath Stadium’s pitch. This decision follows an inspection by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), which deemed the field unsuitable for international competition.
The relocation disrupts Nepal’s hope for a home-field advantage. The nation lacks other stadiums that meet the AFC’s international standards. The Dashrath Stadium’s deterioration, attributed to overuse for various sporting and non-sporting events, highlights the infrastructural challenges faced by Nepali football.
Despite this setback, 33 players have been called up for Nepal’s preliminary squad for the upcoming second-round matches of the World Cup Qualifiers against Bahrain. Nepal is scheduled to face Bahrain on March 21 and March 27. Head coach Vincenzo Alberto Annese announced his squad for the two matches on Thursday. The team will begin a closed camp on March 4.
Goalkeepers: Abhishek Baral, Bishal Sunar, Deep Karki, Kiran Chemjong
Defenders: Ajay Chaudhary, Ananta Tamang, Anjal Maharjan, Bimal Panday, Bishal Basnet, Chhiring Lama, Dipendra BK, Rohit Chand, Sanish Shrestha, Sumit Shrestha, Yogesh Gurung
Midfielders: Arik Bista, Bishal Tamang, Kritish Ratna Chhunju, Laken Limbu, Mani Kumar Lama, Manish Dangi, Rohan Karki, Santosh Khatri, Suraj Jeu Thakuri, Utsab Rai
Forwards: Anjan Bista, Ayush Ghalan, Dinesh Henjan, Gillespye Jung Karki, Hisub Thapaliya, Rajesh Pariyar, Sameer Tamang, Sanjeeb Bista
