With Pakistan pulling out of the event due to “internal issues”, there will be a three-team fight for two semi-final spots in Group ‘A’ that also consists of hosts India. Nepal’s Belgian coach Patrick Aussems considers the match to be a final for his side.
“The game is like a final for us as this sets the tone for our campaign. A win tomorrow would mean 99 percent assurance for a semi-final spot,” All Nepal Football Association’s official website quoted Aussems as saying.
Aussems also said his team has to overcome a hectic schedule to play the match. “The team was travelling throughout the day on Mon-day and we had to deal with tired legs. We trained a few hours today and had to shift hotel too,” added the coach.
Wednesday’s match will be the 16th meeting between Nepal and Sri Lanka with the latter holding an edge on head-to-head results. While eight matches between them had ended in a draw, Sri Lanka have won five and Nepal two. Both teams have won one game apiece in their Saff Championship meetings.
Nepal have not lost their last six matches against Sri Lanka. The island nation were defeated by Bhutan in both matches of the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers. Irrespective of the head-to-head results, a new-look Nepal will be under pressure to end their 10-match winless and goalless streak. Nepal have yet to record a win ever since defeating India in the 2013 Saff Championship. Nepal have also gone 10 games without scoring. Aussems believed that his young squad will be able to end the goal-drought.