The selection team headed by British coach Graham Roberts and assistants Upendra Man Singh and Meghraj KC selected them from among 27 players.[break]
MMC goalkeeper Bishal Shrestha , Three Star midfielder Yogesh Gurung, Police midfielder Yogesh Shrestha and Three Star forward Buddha Chemjong have been dropped from the list of the 27 players. Three players among the shortlisted players will again be eliminated in the final phase selection making a total of 20 players.
The penultimate list declared ahead of two friendlies against Bhutan includes three goalkeepers, seven defenders, seven midfielders and six forwards.
Nepal will play friendlies against the Druks on Thursday and Saturday in Pokhara. According to ANFA sources, Nepali squad will remain in Pokhara for two weeks after the friendlies to prepare for the Challenge Cup group D qualifiers.
Bhutan are playing the friendlies as a preparation for the Challenge Cup playoffs against Afghanistan scheduled to be held in New Delhi on March 23 and 25. The winner among them will join other teams of group D that includes Nepal, North Korea and Sri Lanka.
Squad
Goalkeeper:
Bikash Malla, Ritesh Thapa, Kiran Chemjong,
Defenders:
Sagar Thapa, Sandip Rai, Rohit Chand, Biraj Maharjan, Rabin Shrestha, Bikash Singh Chhetri, Deepak Bhusal
Midfielders:
Nirajan Khadka, Raju Tamang, Bhola Nath Silwal, Anil Ojha, Nirajan Malla, Jagjeet Shrestha, Shiva Shrestha
Forwards:
Anil Gurung, Jumanu Rai, Santosh Sahukhala, Gansh Lawati, Sujal Shrestha, Bharat Khawas.
Eliminated:
Bishal Shrestha, Yogesh Gurung, Yogesh Shrestha, Buddha Chemjong
Related story
Aasif, Jora make return in U-19 squad for Asia Cup
