The Indian football team will take on Nepal in back-to-back international friendly matches to be played at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu, Nepal on September 2 and 5.
Under the tutelage of head coach Igor Stimac, the Blue Tigers had a preparatory camp in Kolkata where they also played two friendly matches against IFA XI and Mohammedan Sporting. India won 1-0 against IFA XI and followed it up with a 2-0 win over Mohammedan Sporting.
After finishing third on the table in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Sunil Chhetri and his men will look to make use of the two international friendlies in order to prepare themselves for the upcoming SAFF championship scheduled to be held in October.
Meanwhile, head coach Igor Stimac has announced his 25-member squad for the two friendlies against Nepal. Seriton Fernandes and Rahim Ali have been added to the squad for the first time while Farukh Choudhary has replaced Ishan Pandita, who featured in the FIFA World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup joint qualification games in Qatar in June.
The Indian football team holds a superior head-to-head record against Nepal, having won 13 of the 19 matches played between these two sides. On the other hand, Nepal have managed just two victories while four matches have ended in a draw.
The last time India and Nepal faced each other, the Blue Tigers secured a 2-0 win at the Mumbai Football Arena courtesy goals from Sandesh Jhingan and Jeje Lalpekhlua on June 6, 2017.
Interestingly, the Nepal football team last hosted India six years back during the second leg of the 2018 World Cup qualifying play-offs and the match ended in a goalless draw.
Indian football team squad for Nepal friendlies
Goalkeepers: Amrinder Singh, Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu
Defenders: Pritam Kotal, Chinglensana Singh Konsham, Mandar Rao Dessai, Akash Mishra, Rahul Bheke, Subhasish Bose, Seriton Fernandes
Midfielders: Lalengmawia, Bipin Singh, Anirudh Thapa, Sahal Abdul Samad, Brandon Fernandes, Liston Colaco, Yasir Mohammad, Glan Martins, Suresh Singh Wangjam, Jeakson Singh, Pronay Halder
Forwards: Manvir Singh, Rahim Ali, Sunil Chhetri, Farukh Choudhary
Nepal football team squad for India friendlies
Goalkeepers: Kiran Kumar Limbu, Deep Karki, Bishal Shrestha, Bikesh Kuthu
Defenders: Ananta Tamang, Dinesh Rajbanshi, Gautam Shrestha, Rohit Chand, Suman Aryal, Rajan Gurung, Kamal Thapa
Midfielders: Ayush Ghalan, Bishal Rai, Nitin Thapa, Pujan Uperkoti, Santosh Tamang, Sujal Shrestha, Sunil Bal, Suraj Jeu Thakuri, Tej Tamang
Forwards: Aashish Lama, Anjan Bista, Manish Dangi, Nawayug Shrestha, Suman Lama
Where to watch India vs Nepal International friendlies live in India?
Live streaming of India vs Nepal International friendlies will be available from 5:15 PM IST on the Indian football team’s official Facebook page.
There will be no telecast for India vs Nepal friendly matches in India.
Courtesy: All India Football Federation
