With the ambitions of making into the second round of Asian Qualifier for the 2020 Olympics, Nepali women team vies against familiar foes Bangladesh in its last group match at the Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon on Tuesday. 

A victory over the South Asian opponent Bangladesh, whom Nepal had beaten in all previous encounters, will help Nepal take an edge for the second round of qualifier. But a draw or defeat will send it crashing out from four-team Group ‘C’. With only last round matches to play, host Myanmar and India are locked at the top of the table with four points each.  

Nepal is third with two points. Bangladesh, who was thumped 5-0 (by Myanmar) and 7-0 (by India), is yet to open scoring in the standings. Nepal, meanwhile, played identical 1-1 draws against both India and Myanmar. 

After Nepal’s early kickoff, Myanmar will take on India in the late fixture that will complete the overall equation for a place in the second round. Even if Nepal defeat Bangladesh, it has to wait for the outcome of day’s second match to qualify for the next stage as group winner. The winning side between India and Myanmar will secure top place finish in table and secure berth for the next round. But a draw between them will put Nepal on top of the table albeit it beats Bangladesh. 

Nepal still has chance to qualify for the second round as group runner-up irrespective of the result between India and Myanmar. And for that to happen, Nepal must wait for the outcome of all four groups and pray they finish among two best runner-up teams. 

Nepal coach Hari Khadka is well aware about the importance of winning against Bangladesh. “The match against Bangladesh will be crucial to make into the second stage of qualifier. We will play for three points to take pole position for qualification,” said Khadka whose side has defeated Bangladesh in all four previous encounters. In the last match played between the two sides, Nepal had defeated Bangladesh 3-0 during group stage of the 2016 South Asian Games. In all, Nepal has scored eight goals and maintained clean sheets in all four matches. 

“Though our qualification chances as group winner hangs on the result from the second match, we still have hopes of making there as one of the best runners-up. We must beat Bangladesh for that to happen,” said Khadka. According to Khadka, the morale of the team was high after holding mighty Myanmar which is placed at 44th position in the FIFA rankings. 

“I wanted to change the mentality of the team and opted for total football against India. The draw itself has boosted confidence level of the players as it was one of the best outcome against the South Asian opponent,” 

he said.