Coach Chhiring Lopsang on Saturday announced a 23-member Nepali squad for the AFC U-19 Championship Qualifiers slated to begin from Tuesday in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. 

Lopsang, who guided the same squad to Saff U-18 Championship title a month ago in Bhutan, has made four changes to the team.  

Goalkeeper Sandesh Gurung is replaced by Sojit Gurung while Suraj Jeu Thakuri and Manish Thapa have replaced midfielders Ram Chandra Wagle and Rajib Lopchan respectively. Forward Dipesh Ale Magar is replaced by Rajesh Pariyar. 

Arpan Karki has been named the skipper. Nepal are pitted in Group ‘A’ of the Qualifiers that consists of the hosts, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Oman. 

Puskar Shahi will be assisting Lopsang, while Mrigendra Mishra is the goalkeeping coach. Nepal will take on hosts in the tournament opener on Tuesday and play Oman two days later. They then meet UAE in the penultimate match on November 4 and wrap up the campaign two days later against Oman. 

All 10 group winners, five best runners up and hosts Indonesia qualify for the finals to be held next year. In  case Indonesia top Group ‘F’, six best runners up will qualify for the finals.