Nepal national under-17 football team (Nepali: नेपाल राष्ट्रीय U-17 फूट्बल टिम) is the under-17 football (soccer) team of Nepal. The team recently participated in the 2014 AFC U-16 Championship.
History
Early years
In the mid-1980s, FIFA provided financial assistance and sent a number of coaches to help Nepal launch its first youth programme, which was geared towards spotting talent at the grassroots level (such as in schools, for example) and providing young players with the necessary know-how, both on and off the pitch. The initial five-year plan helped half the players groomed under the first youth programme to find a place in the national side, and the team that won the 2 gold medals in the first and sixth South Asian Federation (SAF) Games mostly consisted of the players from that youth programme.
Youth investment
ANFA asked FIFA for financial assistance to check the downslide of Nepalese domestic football and in 1998, FIFA agreed to donate funds through its Financial Assistance Programme (FAP), thereby allowing ANFA to construct a secretariat along with a football pitch and a hostel in Kathmandu to launch its youth development programme. The two-year intensive training period for the youth players selected in 1998 produced a number of skilful players, who recently participated in the ninth SAF Games (Pakistan, 29 March - 5 April). The same team had earlier topped its group in the Asian Cup preliminary round in March 2004.
However despite reaching the finals tournament of the 2000 AFC Youth Championship in Vietnam, Nepal refused to participate in a biological age test, and as a result was banned from the 2002 AFC Youth Championship.[1] This, along with the Maoist uprising left manager Stephen Constantine to resign.
In 2002, endeavours to develop football received a further fillip when FIFA awarded a Goal programme to Nepal. Thanks to this project, ANFA has constructed regional football centres that include hostels, office secretariats and playing grounds in three major towns in three different regions. ANFA built these centres to focus on spotting hidden talent in villages or schools around the nation. These centres will also provide the necessary coaching and physical training, and in the long-term, the nation as a whole will benefit with more regional football sides on a par with the clubs of Kathmandu.
Recent years
Nepal was fined by the Asian Football Confederation of fielding over-age players during the 2014 AFC U-16 Championship.[2] Since the fine, the All Nepal Football Association has put in place several necessary age checks as part of selection/trials. The most recent team has qualified for the 2016 AFC U-16 Championship, making it the first Nepal U-16 team to achieve a back-to-back qualification in history.[3]
Stadium
The stadium at daytime
The team's home ground is shared with the Nepal national football team at the Dasarath Rangasala Stadium, a multi-purpose stadium in Tripureswor, Kathmandu, Nepal. Holding 25,000 spectators, of which 5.000 seated, it is the biggest stadium in Nepal. It is named after Dashrath Chand, one of the martyrs of Nepal.
Most recently, the stadium was used as a primary venue for the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup and the 2013 SAFF Championship, with the Halchowk Stadium hosting some of the matches as well. Apart from sporting events, the stadium is also used as a music venue for cultural events with Bryan Adams being the most notable act that performed at the site.
Prior to the 2013 SAFF Championship in Nepal, the Dasarath Rangasala underwent heavy renovation that saw several improvements such as the expansion of seats from 20,000 to 25,000.
Recent results and fixtures
| Date |
Opponent |
Result |
Score* |
Venue |
Competition |
|---|
| September 2016 |
TBA |
TBD |
TBD |
 TBA |
2016 AFC U-16 Championship |
| September 2016 |
TBA |
TBD |
TBD |
TBA |
2016 AFC U-16 Championship |
| September 2016 |
TBA |
TBD |
TBD |
TBA |
2016 AFC U-16 Championship |
| 20 September 2015 |
 Oman |
L |
3–1 |
 Dolen Omurzakov Stadium, Bishkek |
2016 AFC U-16 Championship qualification |
| 18 September 2015 |
Kyrgyzstan |
W |
4–2 |
Dolen Omurzakov Stadium, Bishkek |
2016 AFC U-16 Championship qualification |
| 16 September 2015 |
 Jordan |
W |
2–1 |
Dolen Omurzakov Stadium, Bishkek |
2016 AFC U-16 Championship qualification |
| 16 August 2015 |
India |
L |
0–1 |
 Sylhet District Stadium, Sylhet |
2015 SAFF U-16 Championship (Semi Finals) |
| 14 August 2015 |
 Afghanistan |
W |
1–0 |
Sylhet District Stadium, Sylhet |
2015 SAFF U-16 Championship |
| 10 August 2015 |
 Maldives |
W |
5–0 |
Sylhet District Stadium, Sylhet |
2015 SAFF U-16 Championship |
| 4 August 2015 |
 Manang Marshyangdi Club |
W |
3–0 |
ANFA Complex, Satdobato, Lalitpur, Nepal |
Exhibition match (Friendly) |
| 2 August 2015 |
APF Club |
L |
0–1 |
ANFA Complex, Satdobato, Lalitpur, Nepal |
Exhibition match (Friendly) |
| 28 July 2015 |
Nepal (U-19) |
L |
2–5 |
ANFA Complex, Satdobato, Lalitpur, Nepal |
Exhibition match (Friendly) |
| 14 July 2015 |
Nepal (U-19) |
L |
0–2 |
ANFA Complex, Satdobato, Lalitpur, Nepal |
Exhibition match (Friendly) |
| 16 October 2014 |
 Fluminense FC |
L |
0–1 |
Ambedkar Stadium, New Delhi, India |
2014 U-17 Subroto Cup (Quarter finals)[N 1] |
| 13 October 2014 |
HVS Mizoram |
D |
3–3 |
Ambedkar Stadium, New Delhi, India |
2014 U-17 Subroto Cup[N 1] |
| 12 October 2014 |
Tripura Sports School |
W |
5–1 |
NWC Football Ground, New Delhi, India |
2014 U-17 Subroto Cup[N 1] |
| 11 October 2014 |
CRPF Delhi |
W |
4–0 |
Ambedkar Stadium, New Delhi, India |
2014 U-17 Subroto Cup[N 1] |
| 11 September 2014 |
 North Korea |
L |
1–4 |
 Rajmangala stadium, Bangkok, Thailand |
2014 AFC U-16 Championship |
| 09 September 2014 |
 Kuwait |
W |
2–1 |
SCG Stadium, Nonthaburi, Thailand |
2014 AFC U-16 Championship |
| 07 September 2014 |
 Uzbekistan |
D |
1–1 |
SCG Stadium, Nonthaburi, Thailand |
2014 AFC U-16 Championship |
| 31 August 2014 |
Thailand |
D |
3–3 |
PAT Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand |
Exhibition match (Friendly) |
| 22 August 2014 |
Manang Marshyangdi Club |
L |
0–2 |
ANFA Complex, Satdobato, Lalitpur, Nepal |
Exhibition match (Friendly)[N 2] |
| 13 August 2014 |
.svg.png) RSC Anderlecht (U-19) |
L |
0–5 |
Neerpede Ground, Brussels, Belgium |
Exhibition match (Friendly) |
| 10 August 2014 |
KFC Zwarte Leeuw |
W |
3–2 |
Louis Van Roey Stadium, Rijkevorsel, Belgium |
Exhibition match (Friendly) |
| 05 August 2014 |
Nepal (U-23) |
D |
1–1 |
ANFA Complex, Satdobato, Lalitpur, Nepal |
Exhibition match (Friendly) |
| 19 July 2014 |
 South Korea[4] |
D |
0–0 |
Paju NFC, Paju, South Korea |
Exhibition match (Friendly) |
| 15 July 2014 |
Neunggok High School |
W |
1–0 |
Paju NFC, Paju, South Korea |
Exhibition match (Friendly) |
| 11 July 2014 |
Boin High School |
D |
2–2 |
Paju NFC, Paju, South Korea |
Exhibition match (Friendly) |
| 20 June 2014 |
Nepal |
L |
0–1 |
ANFA Complex, Satdobato, Lalitpur, Nepal |
Exhibition match (Friendly)[N 2] |
| 04 March 2014 |
APF Club |
L |
1–1 (2–4 pen) |
Pokhara Rangasala, Pokhara, Nepal |
12th Aaha Gold Cup[N 2] |
| 28 February 2014 |
Madhyapur Youth Association |
W |
3–2 |
Chyasal Technical Centre, Lalitpur, Nepal |
Exhibition match (Friendly) |
| 14 February 2014 |
Mahindra Bansbari F.C |
W |
5–0 |
Bansbari Home Ground, Kathmandu, Nepal |
Exhibition match (Friendly) |
| 17 November 2013 |
Mohammedan S.C. |
L |
0–1 |
Paljor Stadium, Gangtok, Sikkim |
2013 Sikkim Gold Cup (Quarterfinals)[N 2] |
| 12 November 2013 |
George Telegraph S.C. |
W |
4–1 |
Paljor Stadium, Gangtok, Sikkim |
2013 Sikkim Gold Cup[N 2] |
| 09 November 2013 |
Eastern Railway FC |
W |
1–0 |
Paljor Stadium, Gangtok, Sikkim |
2013 Sikkim Gold Cup[N 2] |
| 25 October 2013 |
 HKNFA |
L |
0–3 |
Pokhara Rangasala, Pokhara, Nepal |
2013 SAFAL Pokhara Cup[N 2] |
| 29 September 2013 |
 Turkmenistan |
W |
4–0 |
Dasarath Rangasala, Kathmandu, Nepal |
2014 AFC U-16 Championship qualification |
| 27 September 2013 |
 Iraq |
D |
2–2 |
Dasarath Rangasala, Kathmandu, Nepal |
2014 AFC U-16 Championship qualification |
| 25 September 2013 |
 Bahrain |
W |
2–0 |
Dasarath Rangasala, Kathmandu, Nepal |
2014 AFC U-16 Championship qualification |
| 30 July 2013 |
India |
L |
0–1 |
Dasarath Rangasala, Kathmandu, Nepal |
2013 SAFF U-16 Championship (Finals) |
| 27 July 2013 |
Bangladesh |
W |
5–1 |
Dasarath Rangasala, Kathmandu, Nepal |
2013 SAFF U-16 Championship (Semi Finals) |
| 24 July 2013 |
 Pakistan |
W |
3–0 |
Dasarath Rangasala, Kathmandu, Nepal |
2013 SAFF U-16 Championship |
| 22 July 2013 |
Afghanistan |
D |
1–1 |
Dasarath Rangasala, Kathmandu, Nepal |
2013 SAFF U-16 Championship |
| 20 July 2013 |
 Bhutan |
W |
7–0 |
Dasarath Rangasala, Kathmandu, Nepal |
2013 SAFF U-16 Championship |
Win
Draw
Loss
Coaching staff
Players
The usual sequence is for the U16 team to play in a regional championship in one year, with the top four qualifying teams being invited to a FIFA U-17 World Cup in the following year, as the U17 team.
U-16 Squad
U-16 Recent Call-ups
Competitive record
- *Denotes draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
- **Red border color indicates tournament was held on home soil.
FIFA U-17 World Cup
In order to qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup, AFC teams must secure a berth (currently, semi-finals) through a continental tournament, the AFC U-16 Championship.
AFC U-16 Championship
SAFF U-16 Championship
| Host/Year |
Result |
Pts |
GP |
W |
D* |
L |
GF |
GA |
GD |
|
| 2011 | Third place | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 1 | +6 |
| 2013 | Runner up | 10 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 3 | +13 |
| 2015 | Semi-final | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | +5 |
| Total | 3/3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
See also
Notes
- 1 2 3 4 Nepal entered the tournament as Lok Smriti High School, a side endorsed by the ANFA Academy to feed into the U16 national team in the following year. Effectively a Nepal U15 side.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Match played against a non-youth senior side.
References
External links
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| | General | |
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| | Other ANFA teams | |
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| | Venues | |
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| | Statistics | |
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| | Players | |
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| | Culture | |
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| | Tournaments | |
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| | | | National teams | |
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| | League system | |
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| | Domestic Cups | |
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| | Defunct |
- British Gurkha Cup
- Birendra Memorial Cup
- Birthday Cup
- Devi Maya Memorial Shield
- San Miguel Itahari Gold Cup
- Khukuri Gold Cup
- Mahendra Gold Cup
- National League Cup
- Ram Janaki Football Tournament
- Tribhuwan Challenge Shield
- Wai Wai Trophy
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| | | Clubs |
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| | A-Division | |
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| | B Division |
- Birgunj Youth Academy Club
- Boudha FC
- Brigade Boys Club
- Chyasal Youth Club
- MYA
- NBSC
- Mahabir Club
- Bansbari Football Club
- Pulchowk SC
- Samajik Youth Club
- Satdobato Youth Club
- Shree Kumari Club]
- Tushal Youth Club
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| | C Division |
- Boys Sports Club
- Gyanbhairab Club
- Jamshikhel Youth Club
- Kalanki Nawajyoti Club
- Khalibari FC
- Khumaltar FC
- Naya Basti Saksham Club
- Oasis Club
- Planning Boys United Club
- Sanepa FC
- Sanogaucharan Youth Club
- Shree Bhagwati
- Social Welfare Sports Centre
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| | Others | |
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- Association Football
- Badminton
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Boxing
- Cricket
- Futsal
- Gymnastics
- Handball
- Kabaddi
- Olympics
- Paralympics
- Rugby Union
- Rugby league
- Tennis
- Volleyball
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- Former nations: * North Vietnam
- South Vietnam
- South Yemen
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