KATHMANDU: Head coach of the Nepal national football team Abdullah Almutairi has expressed his confidence that Nepal would beat India in the friendly match to be held on Thursday.
Although India is stronger than Nepal in football, the Nepali team would play this match for the future and not looking back in history, he said at a press conference here on Wednesday.
Going by history, Nepal’s performances were not satisfactory in the past, but preparations this time are such to secure a win, he said.
The venue for the friendly matches is the Tripureshwor-based Dasharath Stadium. The first match is scheduled for tomorrow at 5:30 pm and the second for September 5.
Meanwhile, Indian head coach Igor Stimac expected a good game against Nepal when the two sides meet in the first of the two friendlies at Dasharath Stadium on Thursday.
At the pre-match conference at Soaltee Hotel on Wednesday, coach Stimac praised the Nepali side for putting a good performance in the recent World Cup Qualifiers matches. “They played really well with young players getting a chance. We have done our homework and expect a tough game,” said Stimac.
Stimac said the friendly matches would be good preparation for the upcoming SAFF Championship.
Indian team skipper Sunil Chhetri also echoed the coach’s view about the game. “It is always difficult to play against Nepal no matter who is playing. This is going to be tough as we are playing in their home ground,” said Chhetri.
Chhetri was also thankful to All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) for organizing the matches and said they have received good hospitality since their arrival.
Nepali team captain Kiran Kumar Limbu said the team has been preparing well for the past two months and the friendlies would be a good test to reflect the team’s shape and mentality. “Coach has prepared us well mentally. We are physically and mentally strong,” said Limbu.
Limbu said the Nepali side would play for pride on home soil and expected a tough and competitive match against India.
Nepal will play against India at Dasharath Stadium on Thursday in the first of the two friendlies. The match will kick off at 5:30 pm. The government has allowed ANFA to allow 5,100 vaccinated spectators during the match. Those without vaccination should produce a negative PCR report to attend the match at the stadium.
The two national teams have faced each other on 19 occasions with India winning in 13 of them. Nepal has defeated India two times the latest of which was the 2-1 victory in the 2013 SAFF Championship in Kathmandu.
The matches are as part of preparations for the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship scheduled to take place in Maldives from October 1-16.
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