Bangladesh-Nepal 1st FIFA Int’l friendly today

BSS, Dhaka :

Bangladesh National Football team will take on hosts Nepal National Football team in the first of the two-match FIFA Tier-1 International Friendly matches scheduled to be held at Dasharath Rangasala in Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal today.
The match kicks-off at 5:45pm (Bangladesh Standard time).
The main objective of the two friendlies for Bangladeshi booters 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 in Shillong on March 25 and lost 2-1 to Singapore in the following game at home on June 10.
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 Football 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. According to the latest FIFA ranking Bangladesh have taken 183rd position.
However, Nepal are favorite based on home ground. They will get ample support from the local crowds.
The second and ultimate match between the two sides will be held on September 9 at the same venue.
Bangladesh squad:
Sujon Hossain, Mehedi Hasan, Rahmat Mia, Topu Barman, Mohammad Ridoy, Jamal Bhuyan, Md Taj Uddin, Arif Hossain, Md Sahriar Emon, Rakib Hossain, Md Foysal Ahmed Fahim, Md Abdullah Omar, Mitul Marma, Tariq Kazi, Papon Singh, Md Sohel Rana, Sohel Rana, Md Isa Faysal, Mohammad Ibrahim, Sumon Reza, Syed Shah Quazem Kirmanee, Md Saad Uddin and Pappu Hossain.