Kathmandu – The Indian National Football Team has arrived in Kathmandu on Monday for two-match-friendly series against Nepal. The friendly matches will be played at Dasharath Stadium on September 2 and 5.
The 25-member strong squad, including captain Sunil Chhetri, was announced by the Indian Football Association on Thursday. After practicing in Pokhara for three weeks, the Nepali team has also returned to the capital.
Nepal and India are going to compete at Dasharath Stadium after six years. That FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifier’s second leg match ended in a goalless draw. In the first leg of the selection in India, Nepal was defeated 2-0.
India has not included veteran defender Sandesh Jhingan in the squad for friendly series. He was signed by Croatia’s HNK Sibenik just last month. Both Nepal and India are preparing for the SAFF championship.
After the friendly match, the Nepali team is preparing to go to Qatar for final preparations. The SAAF Championship will start in the Maldives on September 30. Where India will also compete. Nepal will start the championship by playing against the Maldives.
The 25-member Indian National team squad for the two Friendlies is as follows:
GOALKEEPERS: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Amrinder Singh, Dheeraj Singh.
DEFENDERS: Pritam Kotal, Seriton Fernandes, Chinglensana Singh, Rahul Bheke, Subhasish Bose, Mandar Rao Dessai, Akash Mishra.
MIDFIELDERS: Liston Colaco, Bipin Singh, Lalengmawia, Anirudh Thapa, Abdul Sahal, Brandon Fernandes, Pronay Halder, Glan Martins, Suresh Singh, Jeakson Singh, Yasir Mohammad.
FORWARDS: Manvir Singh, Rahim Ali, Farukh Choudhary, Sunil Chhetri.
