KATHMANDU: Nepal’s national football team has departed for Vietnam to play the AFC Asian Cup qualifying matches against the host nation.

At a farewell event organized on Monday at the ANFA Complex in Satdobato, National Sports Council Member Secretary Tanka Lal Ghising and ANFA officials bid farewell to the squad.

Nepal is scheduled to face Vietnam on October 9 and October 14.

Although Nepal was supposed to play its home match at Dasharath Stadium, the venue remains unfit, leading to both the home and away matches being held in Vietnam.

Head coach Matt Ross expressed confidence during the farewell program, saying that the team had prepared well for the qualifiers.

Referring to the recent friendly match against Bangladesh as a positive performance, he said Nepal would face Vietnam with high morale.

The squad sees the return of Ayush Ghalan, Kritish Ratna Chhunju, and Sumit Maharjan.

Anish Shrestha and Bimal Pandey have also rejoined the team, while goalkeeper Bishal Sunar has been included in the lineup for the first time.