‘No excuse’: Nepal footballers vow to give their all despite struggles on and off the field

Nepal’s men’s football team set off to Malaysia via Bangladesh for AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers on Tuesday, days after they took to the streets to protest ANFA’s perceived apathy.

A 23-member squad of senior players, accompanied by the coaching and supporting staff, were seated for a farewell function by the ANFA, with Minister for Youth and Sports Bablu Gupta as the chief guest. However, despite an auspicious occasion in the making, the air felt different at the hall of the All Nepal Football Association in Satdobato, Lalitpur, on Monday afternoon.