KATHMANDU, Sept 25: Nepal national U-18 football team’s head coach Chet Narayan Shrestha announced his resignation from the post on Tuesday after Nepal’s underwhelming campaign in the ongoing U-18 SAFF (South Asian Football Federation) Championship being held in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Shrestha took complete responsibility for Nepal’s poor performance in the SAFF, losing against Bhutan and drawing to Maldives, for quitting his post.

“We were defending champions. There were huge expectations on us. I take the full responsibility for the loss in the SAFF matches and announce to resign from my position,” Shrestha told Republica.

Since the official resignation letter has not been submitted yet, All Nepal Football Association has no official word on the matter. Shrestha plans to submit it on Wednesday.

Nepal’s slim chances to advance to semifinal was dashed after Bhutan and Maldives played a goal-less stalemate during the U-18 SAFF match played at Armed Police Force’s Halchowk Football Ground in Kathmandu on Tuesday.

Defending champions Nepal had an outside chance to reach the semis from Group A as runner-ups if Bhutan had defeated Maldives by a difference of four goals which instead finished on 0-0. 

The pressure on Shrestha mounted after Nepal had lost to Bhutan by three goals to nil in a match played on Sunday.

Nepal finished on one point after two matches, losing to Bhutan and drawing against Maldives, on third place in the group whereas Bhutan with four points and Maldives with two points qualified for the semifinals. Nepal had played a 1-1 draw against Maldives on the opening day of the U-18 tournament.

The semifinal opponents for both teams will be finalized after the completion of Group B matches.
Nepal had won the two previous editions of the tournament.

 
• Chet_Nayaran_Shrestha
 
• nepal_U-18_Coach
 
• football