SAFF Championship 2023 Rival Watch: Nepal

Nepal lost to Kuwait in the SAFF Championship 2023 opener.

The 2023 SAFF Championship is up and running. The eight participating teams have been grouped in two groups of four. Nepal is grouped alongside India, Pakistan and Kuwait. The Gorkhalis finished as runners-up at the 2021 SAFF Championship in Maldives where they were handed a defeat in the final by champions India.

India will face off against Nepal on June 24 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru at 7:30 pm IST. The Blue Tigers have a good head-to-head record against Nepal. However, they’ll need to be prepared for the challenges that the neighbours bring to the table.

On that note, let us take a look at how India’s rivals Nepal look ahead of their clash.

Recent Performances

It has been a tale of two halves for the Nepal national football team in 2023. They have won two and lost two while playing out a draw in five matches this year. They have arrived at the 2023 SAFF Championship after winning the 2023 Prime Minister’s Three Nations Cup.

Hosts Nepal defeated Laos twice and drew against neighbours Bhutan at the tournament to clinch the title. But just before coming into the tournament, they were handed a 1-0 defeat by the Philippines in an international friendly. Moreover, they haven’t started the 2023 SAFF Championship campaign on the right note. Nepal were handed a 3-1 defeat by Kuwait in their opening fixture.

About the team

Currently ranked 174 on the FIFA rankings, Nepal has been a familiar opponent for Igor Stimac and his men. The Gorkhalis recently made a change at the helm as they appointed two time I-league winning manager Vincenzo Alberto Annese as their head coach ahead of the 2023 Prime Minister’s Three Nations Cup.

Annese’s appointment saw them win the Three Nations Cup as they beat Laos in the final. Currently, the national team set up has a lot of new faces and the head coach is expected to hand over debuts to a few more players. 

The Coach

Often regarded as one of the best Spanish managers to grace the game in India proven by his success with I-league outfit Gokulam Kerala FC, Vincenzo Alberto Annese has been handed the hot seat for the Nepal national team. And to everyone’s surprise, the Italian tactician has hit the ground running.

Annese joined the Nepal National team after a horrific and demoralising Indian Super League (ISL) season with NorthEast United where he was brought in midway through the season. The 38-year-old was expected to have a positive impact on the Highlanders, but things didn't go his way.

Annese is a fearless coach and is known for his bold decisions on the pitch. He is very good at nurturing young talents and giving them a fair share of opportunities to shine. Currently a UEFA Pro Licence holder, Annese’s preferred formation is a 4-3-3 attacking set up.

Players to watch

Anjan Bista

A centre-forward by trade, Anjan can play across all positions in the front line. He has been one of Nepal’s best players in the attacking third for quite some time now. He is a keen dribbler and can also operate as an attacking midfielder as and when required. 

He has come up through the ranks and is well aware of India's strengths and weaknesses. Anjan has scored 12 goals in 57 appearances for Nepal and is just one goal shy from becoming the joint-highest goalscorer for Nepal. Moreover, he has already scored a goal in the tournament against Kuwait and will look to add more to his tally.

Kiran Limbu

Kiran is Nepal’s longest serving player and has seen it all with the Nepal national team. Currently with 89 national caps, Limbu is nearing his 100th national team appearance as he hopes to become the first Nepalese player to achieve the feat.

He has been their main man in between the sticks and it isn’t easy to score past him. Standing at 6’1, Kiran’s height has always been an added advantage for him and his team. If Nepal wants to give India a strong fight, Limbu will have to be at the peak of his powers.

Rohit Chand

Rohit is one of Nepal’s most versatile players and can play across different positions seamlessly. A defender by trade, Rohit can also play as a defensive midfielder, central midfielder and attacking midfielder if required.

He has represented Nepal in 80 international games and is currently their second-longest serving player. His on-the-ball skills and ability to play out from the back go very well with Vincenzo Alberto Annese’s style of play and he has therefore become an important asset for the new manager.

What to expect

Nepal finished the previous edition of the SAFF Championship as runners up and will only want to improve their performance this time around. They have already won the Three Nations Cup under their new manager Vincenzo Alberto Annese and will want to repeat the same here as well.

Although they have lost their opening game against Kuwait, expect them to come back stronger against the Blue Tigers and give them a tough fight. In a group where India and Kuwait are expected to dominate, Nepal could very well turn out to be the dark horses.