Bangladesh take on Nepal today

Bangladesh will take on host Nepal in the first of the two-match FIFA Tier-1 International Friendlies scheduled to be held at Dashrath Rangasala Stadium in Kathmandu, Nepal today (Saturday), reports BSS.

The match kicks off at 5.45 pm Bangladesh time.

The main objective of the two friendlies is to prepare for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup qualification clashes against Hong Kong in home and away matches next month.

Bangladesh, which stands third position in the Group C with one point in the Asian Cup qualification, earlier made a slow start playing out to a goalless draw against India and lost 2-1 to Singapore in the following game at home.

The Bangladesh team will miss the service of all of their overseas-based

footballers.

Shamit Shome had earlier confirmed his unavailability for the matches, while Leicester City midfielder Hamza Dewan Choudhury suffered injury during a Championship League fixture recently, was not included in the Nepal-bound final squad.

While Italy-based Fahamedul Islam and Bashundhara Kings' new signing Cuba Mitchell are with the under-23 football team for the AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qualifiers engagement in Vietnam.

Nepal are also taking the two friendlies against Bangladesh as part of their preparation for AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.

Nepal national team are currently ranked 176th in the world, according to FIFA, have most recently suffered a 2-1 defeat to Laos in qualification for the AFC Asian Cup

during the June international break.

However, Nepal are favorite based on home ground. They will get ample support from the local crowds.