The team leaves abroad first, then the team announcement. This is the talk of the Nepali national football team, which has reached Laos for its final match on Tuesday in the third round of the Asia Cup qualifiers.

This will be the first international match amid the complicated situation in which the National Sports Council (NSC) has suspended the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA). It is feared that this may also be the last international match before some major untoward incident. 

If ANFA sources are to be believed, FIFA is waiting for this match before making any decision regarding Nepali football. After this match, the way will be opened for FIFA to make its decision. There is also a coincidence in history here. Whenever Nepali football is in such controversy, field football tends to improve at that time. In such a situation, can Nepal be trusted to play well against Laos on its own soil? 

This match is special for two other reasons. The first reason is that head coach Guglielmo Arena is making his debut for Nepal from this match. Nepal is playing for the first time under the leadership of its second Italian coach. The second reason is the opportunity to take revenge against Laos. After Bhutan, Nepal's most beloved opponent in international football was Laos. If they played against Laos, victory was almost certain. 

However, that story changed in this qualifier. Nepal suffered a 2-1 defeat against Laos in the first leg of this qualifier. In many ways, this result can be considered the worst in international football. Now the only way to forget it is to take revenge by defeating Laos at home this time. Of course, this match should have been played at Dasharath Stadium, but FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have deemed the stadium unfit for international matches. 

Again, this is the match that will decide the team that will finish last in the group. Vietnam has already qualified for the Asian Cup from this group. The result of their match against Malaysia also does not mean much. Malaysia will not remain in second place. This is the same team that has already lost 2 games won due to disciplinary action for playing ineligible players. So whenever Nepal takes the field against Laos, the team will have no other option but to win. 

In the current group standings, Vietnam is at the top with 15 points. Malaysia is next with 9 points. Malaysia, which has won all 5 games, is under disciplinary action. Then Laos and Nepal are tied on 3 points. Nepal has not won a single game in the qualifiers. The 3 points that both teams have won came from a 3-0 win decision after Malaysia was disciplined. 

Playing for a win

Nepal's Italian coach Arena also agrees with this fact. He said that no other result than a win will be acceptable to Nepal. In the pre-match conference held on Monday, he said, 'We will take the field against Laos to win. We have come to Laos with a balance of young and experienced players.' Another coincidence is that he was previously the coach of the Laos team. That's why who else knows more about the Laos team than him? 

He adds, 'My current goal is to prepare a generation of young players. That's why I have put some new faces in the team. We are fully prepared for the game.' Captain Kiran Kumar Limbu also believes that victory will be the only objective. He said, 'When we step onto the field, victory is the goal. We have prepared well. We will play according to the strategy devised by the coach.' The game will start at 7 pm Nepali time. It is certain that Laos must be happy to play a game on Nepali soil at home. 

5 new faces

The team prepared by Arena is a little different. There are 5 new faces in his 23-member team. They are Pemba Dorje, Milan Rai, Yuvraj Khadka, Roman Bhujel and Yogesh Dhimal. The big names who have left since their arrival include Anjan Bista to Eric Bista and Laken Limbu. In particular, 7 players have been removed from the team for the qualifier against Malaysia. This is the situation where those who do well in the postponed National League 2082 have a chance. 

Kiran Bhayhal will be the captain. Other players in the team include Abhishek Limbu, Aditya Shakya, Anant Tamang, Ayush Ghalan, Bimal Pandey, Vishal Sunar, Dipesh Gurung, Gillespie Jung Karki, Kritisharatna Chunju, Manikumar Lama, Manish Dangi, Rohan Karki, Rohit Chand, Sanish Shrestha, Suman Shrestha, Sumit Shrestha and Yogesh Gurung. Perhaps the way Coach Arena has announced the team now, his eyes are focused on the future team, especially for the SAFF Championship.