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The Indian national team could face Nepal in an international friendly in Chennai next month, Sportskeeda can reveal.
Although the initial plan was to play two friendlies against the Philippines, the AIFF has eventually decided to play the second of the two friendlies in November against neighbours Nepal, who defeated India 2-1 at SAFF Championship 2013.
AIFF general secretary Kushal Das told Sportskeeda on Tuesday, “Chennai will host the Philippines friendly on November 15 and Nepal is likely to be our opponents on November 19 in the same venue. We have got verbal confirmation from Nepal and expect it to be officially confirmed soon.”
With both November 15 and 19 being FIFA matchdays, the AIFF was determined to make the most of it after not arranging any matches in October. Das added that head coach Wim Koevermans and the players will assemble in Chennai three or four days before the friendly against the Philippines.
The AIFF has already inspected the pitch of Chennai’s Nehru Stadium, which last hosted an international match back in May 2008 when India played out a 2-2 draw with Chinese Taipei in a friendly.
As per the current FIFA Rankings, Philippines are ranked 14 places above India at 141 but it could change in the next release this Thursday as the Azkals won the Peace Cup which they hosted with Chinese Taipei and Pakistan being the other teams in it.
Nepal are placed at 163 having moved up seven places in September following wins over higher ranked India and Bangladesh at SAFF 2013 but they were not in action in October.
India has played only three international friendlies in Koevermans’ reign so far and lost all of them. The Dutchman would be looking for his first friendly win next month.
