By Sachit Subba • Football • Sep 05, 2025 14:59 PM • 38 views
Kathmandu, Sept 5 – After nearly two years without international football on home turf, Nepal is back in action at the Dasharath Stadium this Saturday, welcoming regional rivals Bangladesh in the first of two FIFA international friendly matches. The second encounter is scheduled for Tuesday. The double-header is more than just an exhibition—it serves as vital preparation for Nepal's upcoming AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers. In October, the national team will face a daunting campaign with home-and-away fixtures against Vietnam and an away clash against Malaysia. For head coach Matt Russ, these matches are an opportunity to refine tactics, build momentum, and assess new players before the competitive stage begins.
Nepal enters the contest with questions still lingering over form and consistency. In June, the team suffered a 2-1 defeat to Laos—a side considered weaker on paper—after a 2-0 loss to Malaysia earlier in the year. For Russ, Saturday marks his fifth match in charge. While he pointed to limited training time as a factor in Malaysia, even with more preparation ahead of the Laos tour, results remained elusive.
"My philosophy should already be clear to supporters after the first four matches," Russ said at the pre-match press conference. "I always strive for a positive outcome, and tomorrow, our only objective will be to secure a victory."
Russ has not shied away from refreshing the squad. Four players made their debuts during the Malaysia tour, with three more introduced against Laos. This time, two fresh names—midfielders Aditya Shakya and Amit Lama—have earned their first senior call-ups, alongside Kushal Deuba, who was part of the Laos squad but did not feature.
With the AFC U-23 qualifiers ongoing, Rust emphasised that the additions are more than capable of competing at the senior level.
"Even though we are playing these friendlies during the U-23 qualifiers, the replacements coming in are all players capable of performing at the top level," he noted.
For fans, Saturday's return to Dasharath is about more than just watching football—it is a chance to see whether Nepal's rebuilding project under Russ can finally deliver results, and whether the long wait for home action will be rewarded with a victory.
