KATHMANDU: Nepal is playing the final match against Laos today for the Prime Minister’s Three Nations Cup title. The final match will start at 5.30 pm at Dasharath Stadium in Tripureshwar, Kathmandu.
The final match between Nepal and Laos to be played today will be informal as the FIFA-recognized friendly matches have expired.
As per FIFA rule only two international friendly matches can be played on one FIFA date, today’s match has not been recognized by FIFA. Neither today’s games nor the players will get any international recognition. In other words, this final match will not affect the FIFA ranking.
Nepal and Laos have already become first and second in this three-nation cup. Nepal defeated Laos 2-0 in the first match and drew 1-1 with Bhutan. Laos defeated Bhutan 2-1.
As most of the regular players of the national team have already gone abroad, Nepal’s new coach Vincenzo Alberto Enes is thinking of having a good start by winning the title in his first tournament with the team of new players.
Captain Kiran Kumar Limbu, Rohit Chand, Anant Tamang, Navyug Shrestha, and Bharat Khawas are the only experienced players.
Anjan left the field in the second half after getting injured in the match against Bhutan. He is unlikely to play today. Similarly, Pujan Uparkoti will not play in the final due to a double yellow card.
Enes, who has kept 6 new players in the team, has given a debut to four players Sanish Shrestha, Mani Kumar Lama, Deepakraj Singh Thakuri, and Sumit Shrestha in the first match.
Goalkeeper Abhishek Baral and defender Padam Bhattarai, who are in the team for the first time, have not made their debut this time.
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