The Group A match between Nepal and Sri Lanka will begin at 18:45 NST at the Trivandrum International Stadium. Host India is another team in Group A.Nepal is playing for the second time under the leadership of new captain Anil Gurung following the recent match-fixing scam. The team includes majority of new faces after former captain Sagar Thapa, defender Sandip Rai and goalie Ritesh Thapa were handed life-long bans by the AFC.
Nepal, coached by Patrick Aussems, is aiming to claim the title. Likewise, 1995 champion Sri Lanka, which is being mentored by coach Sampath Perera Kolomage, is looking to regain its lost pride by claiming the title of the championship this time around.
Skipper Chathuranga Sanjeewa is eager to start a new chapter after facing defeat against long time South Asian Bhutan in the qualifiers for the Asian Cup and World Cup in March.
Looking at the past records of both the teams, Nepal and Sri Lanka have faced each other 15 times with Nepal winning two matches, losing five times and eight matches ending with draws.
Even in the South Asian football competitions, Nepal and Sri Lanka met each other for four times with Sri Lanka winning twice and Nepal winning once, and one match finished in a draw.
Last time the two countries faced each other was in the AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers in 2011 in Kathmandu and the match ended with a goalless draw.
Nepal, which is yet to claim the title of the championship, will face India on December 27 in the last match of the group. Top two teams will enter the semifinal of the tournament.
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