KATHMANDU: Head coach Chet Narayan Shrestha on Tuesday announced the final 23-member Nepal U-18 football squad for the upcoming SAFF U-18 Championship which is set to begin from September 20.

Nepal is hosting the championship at Halchowk Stadium.

Goalkeeper Rohit Karki and midfielder Dipesh Gurung have been released from the ongoing camp for the championship. Head Coach Shrestha trimmed the squad after an eight-day-long preparatory camp in Pokhara.

Nepal will play their opening match against the Maldives on September 20.

Final squad:

Goalkeepers: Bishal Sunar, Surya Adhikari, Pujan Hona.

Defenders: Bishal Basnet, Randip Poudel, Padam Bhattarai, Sujan Sharma, Nabin Gurung, Roshan Dong, Alik Rumba, Anjal Maharjan.

Midfielders: Sishir Lekhi, Roshan Rana Magar, Akash Buda Magar, Jaya Gurung, Manish Thapa, Kushal Phuyal, Nitin Thapa.

Forwards: Brijesh Chaudhary, Sachu Gurung, Kailash Lamichhane, Darshan Gurung, Manish Dangi.