KATHMANDU, Sept 22: Nepali U-16 football team will be facing India on Friday in a ‘do or die’ match in the ongoing AFC U-16 Championship 2018 Qualifiers.

Nepal has to win against India in order to keep its qualification hope alive, while the Indian side will be looking for two wins in a row when they play each other at Halchowk Stadium in Kathmandu. 
While Nepal lost 1-0 to Iraq on Wednesday, India comprehensively defeated Palestine 3-0, which surely has boosted its confidence before it takes on the home side. 

Nepal’s coach Sunil Kumar Shrestha said that his team will play for a certain win with attacking tactics on Friday. 

“If we lose against India, the qualification hope for Nepal will come to an end,” Shrestha said: “The experience from the last match against defending champion Iraq has boosted confidence to the players.”

“We watched the second half between India and Palestine. They also have problems in finishing,” Shrestha added: “We will play for a win by correcting the weakness of the first match. The team is now ready to present strong challenge.’’ 

Nepali players were engaged in stopping the shots of the opponents in the first match, managing a shot on target just once during the entire match. 

India’s coach Bibiano Fernandes said that the upcoming match would be completely different despite having defeated Nepal twice, including in the final match in the SAFF U-15 Championship last month. 

“The title we won by defeating Nepal in SAFF has already become a history,” Fernandes said: “Nepal is a home team and it’s always tough to play against them.”

“But the win in the first match has boosted our confidence,” Fernandes added: “I am confident that we will continue the same rhythm that we had in the first match, and qualify for the next round.’’ 
India had defeated Nepal in the group stages and the final with two 2-1 victories in the SAFF U-15 Championship.

Meanwhile, Iraq faces Palestine in another match on Friday.

India is at the top of Group D along with Iraq due to bigger goal difference although both teams have three points each. Pointless Nepal and Palestine are at the third and fourth places, respectively. 

Asia’s 45 nations are competing in 10 different groups in the tournament. The group winners and the best five runner-ups along with the host Malaysia will compete in the final stages of the tournament to be held in Malaysia in September 2018. 

 
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• #‘do or die’
 
• #ongoing afc u-16 championship