Can the match at the National Stadium in Dhaka send a positive message to Nepali football? There are probably two different answers to this. It can, because Nepal has been dominating Bangladesh in recent times. Nepal is undefeated in the last six matches between the two teams.
What you should know
While Nepali football is experiencing a series of confusion, uncertainty, disputes, splits and conflicts, the men's national team is playing a friendly international match against Bangladesh on Thursday. Can the match at the National Stadium in Dhaka give a positive message to Nepali football? There are probably two different answers to this. It can, because Nepal has been dominating Bangladesh in recent times. Nepal is undefeated in the last 6 matches between the two teams.
That too since 2020. That includes two wins and four draws. This time, Hari Khadka is making his debut as a coach for Nepal in the men's team. One of the all-time 'legends' of Nepali football, Harikai, holds a record of 13 goals for the national team. Not only him, but two others have also scored 13 goals for Nepal.
One of them is Harikai's contemporary Neerajan Rayamajhi. The other is Anjan Bista. Anjan is in the current team. So, can he set a new goal record against Harikai? If this is possible, it will be a dream story for Nepali football. 'If this happens, I will be the happiest,' said Hari, 'It would be great to surpass the 13-goal record, I have been waiting for this for a long time.'
There is another basis that gives strength to this possible coincidence, Anjan's personal rhythm against Bangladesh. Anjan has scored 4 goals against Bangladesh in the last three matches. That includes a hat-trick. Nepal may not be able to get a favorable result against Bangladesh, because the entire team is currently in a bad rhythm. Nepal is winless in its last 6 matches.
Of which, four losses and two draws are included. In a way, the Nepali team's performance in the last few matches has been weak. Moreover, there is disappointment among the players due to domestic disputes. So it will be difficult for Nepal to break this trend. Moreover, Bangladeshi football is currently running with a kind of enthusiasm. The obvious reason for this is the presence of Hamza Chaudhary in the team. He is playing for Leicester City in the Championship League in England.
He also has extensive experience in the Premier League. It will be an exciting opportunity for Nepali players to face players like him. He had decided to play for the Bangladesh national team from 2024, and since then, his arrival has directly made the Bangladeshi football team attractive. Despite this, Bangladesh has won only one of its last five matches. That was against Bhutan.
Apart from that, Bangladesh has lost to Hong Kong and Singapore. Bangladesh has drawn with Hong Kong and Nepal. The last match between Nepal and Bangladesh ended in a goalless draw at the Dashrath Stadium. The second match between the two teams was cancelled due to the Gen-G protests. And since then, Nepali team head coach Matt Ross has also resigned.
