Youth Football

Head coach Urjan Shrestha announced the final 23-player squad for the 2023 AFC U-17 Asian Cup qualifying on Thursday. After the SAFF U-17 Championship in September 2022, 30 players were invited to the closed camp on September 16.

Nepal finished the SAFF U-17 championship 2022 as the runner up after losing 4-0 to India in the final.

In order to compete in the 2023 AFC U-17 Asian Cup qualifying, the team will depart on Sunday.

Final squad:

Goalkeepers: Samir Chand, Rubin Bhogati, Krishal Moktan

Defenders: Madan Poudel, Yunish Magar, Dipak Thapa Magar, Nishant Tamang, Bikram Tamang, Semanta Thapa, Aswin Ghorasainee, Dhiraj Bishwokarma, Ram Thapa

Midfielders: Harish Raj Bhatta, Prashant Laksham, Binod KC, Shriyans Manandhar, Niraj Karki, Saroj Darlami, Unish Budhathoki, Lachhu Thapa, Dhan Singh BK

Forwards: Subash Bam, Sijal Rai

The national U-17 squad has been reduced to 30. 

Head coach Urjan Shrestha left out 15 players called up for the closed camp. 

The team will take part in the SAFF U-17 Championship in September and the 2023 AFC U-17 Asian Cup qualification.

Squad: Mukesh Gharti, Rubin Bogati, Krishal Moktan, Simanta Thapa, Unish Magar, Subash Magar, Unish Budathoki, Jan Prakash Bam, Nishan Tamang, Sijal Rai, Madhu Paudel, Gaurav Maharjan, Bikram Tamang, Harish Bhatta, Lachu Thapa, Prashant Laxsam, Niroj Karki, Samir Tamang, Dhan Singh BK, Dipak Thapa Magar, Manav Pokharel, Kushal Deuba, Mirak Lingden, Pritam Karki, Binod KC, Dhiraj BK, Sohan Syangtang, Nirajan Dhami, Saroj Darlami, Samir Chand

Forty-five players have been selected for the preliminary squad of the U-17 national team.

The players have been finalized for the closed camp after the selection process conducted at ANFA Complex in Satdobato.

The selected players will have to contact at ANFA Complex at 2 pm on Monday. 

Preliminary squad: Abhishek Thokar (Rautahat), Ankit Gurung (ANFA Academy Butwal), Ashim Jung Karki (ANFA Academy Dharan), Bikram Tamang (Jhapa), Binod KC (ANFA Academy Butwal), Dhan Singh BK (Surkhet), Dhirak BK (Dhankuta), Dipak Thapa Magar (ANFA Academy Dharan), Dolak Bahadur Thapa Magar (ANFA Academy Dharan), Gaurav Maharjan (Kathmandu), Harish Bhatta (Kailali), Jan Prakash Bam (Kalikot), Krishal Moktan (ANFA Academy Dharan), Kushal Deuba (Kanchanpur), Lacchu Thapa (Tanahun), Madan Poudel (Okhaldhunga), Manav Pokharel (Morang), Marshal Shahi (Kathmandu), Mirak Lingden (Jhapa), Mukesh Gharti (Surkhet), Nikhel Sunar (ANFA Academy Butwal), Niranjan Dhami (Kailali), Nirdesh Rai (Panchthar), Niroj Karki (Jhapa), Nishant Tamang (Jhapa), Palden Gurung (Jhapa), Prashant Laxsam (Jhapa), Previous Sunuwar (ANFA Academy, Dharan), Pritam Karki (ANFA Academy Butwal), Rahul Belbase (ANFA Academy Butwal), Ritesh Thapa Magar (ANFA Academy Dharan), Rubin Bogati (Dolakha), Samir Chand (ANFA Academy Butwal), Samir Tamang (Bara), Saroj Darlami (ANFA Academy Butwal), Sijal Rai (Sunsari), Simanta Thapa (ANFA Academy Dharan), Sohan Shyangtang (ANFA Academy Dharan), Subash Gurung (Syangja), Subin Khadka (ANFA Academy Dharan), Sujat Dangol (Kathmandu), Sujat Khadka (ANFA Academy Dharan), Sushil Tamang (Dhading), Unish Budathoki (ANFA Academy Dharan), Unish Magar (Jhapa)

All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) has bid farewell to the U-20 national team flying to India for the U-20 SAFF Championship in Bhuwaneshwor.

The farewell was organized at ANFA Complex in Satdobato amid a special programme on Friday.

Chief Guest National Sports Council Member Secretary Tanka Lal Ghising put on flower garlands to the players and the officials in the farewell ceremony while ANFA President Pankaj Bikram Nembang, Senior Vice President Bir Bahadur Khadka, Vice President Deepak Khatiwada, General Secretary Kiran Rai, Treasurer Rabindra Joshi central members Mahendra Chhetri and Sarila Shrestha handed over the national flag to the team.

Chief Guest Ghising wished the team for a good performance in the competition. "I hope the best players have been selected from the selection process and I wish you the victory in the competition," said Ghising. "I also hope to see these players in the national team in the future," Ghising added.

ANFA President Nembang expected the team to bring the good old days back. "The effort put by every players and coaching staffs will surely bring some good result in the competition. I wish you the very best and a victorious campaign," said the President.

ANFA Senior Vice President Khadka gave welcome speech in the programme and said it was a joyous moment for the new leadership to see the young players taking part in an international competition. "You have the support of every Nepali citizens and everyone here at ANFA. I hope your success in the competition will become a motivation for us to work for the betterment of the players in coming days," said Khadka.

The team will fly at 3 pm today.

Nepal will play its first match of the SAFF U-20 Championship against Maldives on July 25. Their second match against Sri Lanka on July 27 followed by India on the 31st. Nepal's final group match will be against Bangladesh on August 2.

The top two teams after the group round will play in the final on August 5.

All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) President Pankaj Bikram Nembang and General Secretary Kiran Rai visited injured U-20 forward Dipesh Rai at B&B Hospital on Thursday.

President Nembang and General Secretary Rai took stock of Rai's health condition during the visit. Team Manager Diwakar Ghale was also present in the visit.

Rai, injured during the national U-20 practice match on Tuesday, was admitted to the hospital with a swollen foot. He will be discharged from the hospital on Friday.

Head coach Meghraj KC has since replaced Rai with Rohit Subba in the team.

The final squad of U-20 national team for the upcoming SAFF U-20 Championship in India has been confirmed.

Head coach Meghraj KC has confirmed his squad for the championship on Monday.

Nepal will play its first match of the SAFF U-20 Championship against Maldives on July 25. Their second match against Sri Lanka on July 27 followed by India on the 31st. Nepal's final group match will be against Bangladesh on August 2.

Final squad:

Goalkeeper: Ishwor Gurung, Unesh Chaudhary, Jiyarath Seikh

Defenders: Amar Shrestha, Sonit Dahal, Aayush Shrestha, Ajay Chaudhary, Sumit Shrestha, Srijan Dhani, Roshan Thapa, Abhishek Waiba

Midfielders: Dipesh Gurung, Aashish Rai, Sandeep Karki, Janmajay Dhami, Mohit Gurung, Kritish Ratna Chhunju, Sugam Suwal, Managya Nakarmi, Aayush Ghalan

Forward: Dipesh Rai, Niranjan Malla, Rohan Khadgi

(The fixtures of the tournament have been updated.)