Nepal U-17 faces tough challenge in AFC Qualifiers, but coach, players optimistic

Kathmandu, Oct. 20: Nepal’s U-17 men’s squad will face Japan in the duo’s first group-stage match in the AFC U-17 Asian Cup Qualifiers on October 23. It will kick off the Nepali youngsters’ campaign in the Qualifiers where two more matches, against host Qatar and Mongolia, will be waiting for them.

There are 43 teams in the AFC U-17 Asian Cup Qualifiers, and they have been divided into 10 groups – seven of four each and three of five. Nepal is in Group F.

According to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the 10 group winners and five best second-placed teams will advance to the AFC U-17 Asian Cup. Thus, to play for the Cup in Saudi Arabia in 2025, the Nepali U-17 side should either top the group or keep the second spot with a decent goal difference. However, securing neither of the first two spots will be difficult for Nepal.

The first and major reason is Japan. Japan is not only the defending champion but four-time winner of the AFC U-17 Asian Cup (1994, 2006, 2018 and 2023). Japan will be eying to emerge as the best team in the overall Qualifiers and lifting the AFC U-17 Cup once again, making it three in a row. 

The Japanese squad is also in good form as they defeated Uzbekistan, Peru and the USA in the past two months. On the other hand, the Nepali U-17 squad returned from Bhutan after losing by 4-2 to India in the semi-final of the SAFF U-17 Championship (September 20-30, 2024). Nevertheless, the squad showed promising football when they made a comeback against the host Bhutan to enter the semi-final. 

Yet, the squad is motivated to put up a great show of football in the AFC U-17 Qualifiers against better opponents. And head coach Sanoj Shrestha is also quite optimistic about his squad delivering on a bigger stage.

Moreover, Coach Shrestha has made a good number of changes to the squad that competed in the SAFF Championship to the one he is taking to Qatar on a flight from the Tribhuvan International Airport, Sunday night.

Players like Sujan Dangol, Krishna Bahadur Ale, Nishan Raj Lawat, Bhakta Bahadur Pariyar, Jeevan Gurung, Saran SK, Pawan Pakhrin and Sabinay Katwal have been replaced for the AFC Qualifiers. Dangol and Ale were the scorers when Nepal made a 2-1 comeback against Bhutan.

“We have made changes to the squad to deliver better. Japan will be the mightiest opponent in the group stage, but the players will enter the ground with an effective playing style. Qatar, as host, will also be a challenge and so will Mongolia, but we are ready,” Coach Shrestha told The Rising Nepal.

As Nepali youngsters, most with fresh and stylish haircut, started entering the Conference Room at the ANFA Complex in Lalitpur on Saturday for a farewell programme by the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), they seemed prepared mentally. They were cheering up each other with short speeches.

“The presence of elderly Ram Chandra Bania, who came to see off his grandchild Bishesh Bania, a player in the squad, also made the farewell special as it shows that the hopes of people of all age groups are behind the players. We expect that you (players) all will focus on their games, improve themselves with every step they take and make the country proud,” said Pankaj Bikram Nembang, President of ANFA, while addressing the players.

 In the U17 category, Nepali is in Group F with Japan, Qatar and Mongolia. Japan is not only the defending champion but four-time winner of the tournament. The group stage matches will be hosted by Qatar. Before the U17 Qualifiers, Nepal will participate in the SAFF U17 Championship to be held in Bhutan between September 18 and 28

The squad to face Japan, Qatar and Mongolia in AFC Qualifiers were bidden farewell on Saturday.