Afghanistan are the front-runners in the SAFF Championship having scored the most number of goals and also being the only team to reach double figures with 12 goals. Belal Arezou is their star striker having scored five.
Yousef Kargar’s firing line is powered by the sheer overlapping pace of their skipper Haroon Fakruddin while Ata Yamir Ali and Sanjar Ahmadi have also made their contribution in the attacking third.
The Lions will be boosted with their performance in the last match in the group in which they thrashed Bhutan 8-1. But they will be aware to the kind of threat that their semi-finals opponents can provide on Friday.
Nepal have looked like favourites but have however failed to capitalise on more than a handful onumber of chances in front of goal – all their attacking prowess earning them only three goals from as many matches.
The Gorkhalis will be hoping for lack of complacency, especially from Anil Gurung who has failed to deliver for his team, as they enter the semi-finals with a team who are equally dangerous while playing on the counter.
Graham Roberts will be hoping for Rabin Shrestha to be ready for action after being hospitalized following a clash of heads with a Pakistan player.