KATHMANDU: Nepal faced a 1-0 defeat at the hands of the Philippines in international friendly match at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila on Thursday. After a goalless first half, Javier Augustine Gayoso scored the solitary goal of the match in the 48th minute. Nepal created a couple of chances to level the scores but they failed to find the back of the nets. Laken Limbu and Bimal Pandey made their debuts from the national football team after head coach Vincenzo Alberto Annese included them in the starting XI.

Nepal will fly for India on Friday for the SAFF Championship slated for June 21 to July 4 in Bangalore.

Nepal are in Group A along with India, Pakistan and Kuwait. Lebanin, Maldives, Bangladesh and Bhutan are in Group B. Nepal will play against Kuwait on June 21 and face defending champions India three days later. Nepal will end the group round campaign with a match against Pakistan on June 27. Top two teams from both pools will advance to semi-finals.