The match will kick-off at 3:15 Bangladesh time at the ANFA complex at Satdobato in Lalitpur.
Dhaka Abahani team comprising 20 booters and 10 officials reached Kathmandu on Sunday and made good practices there ahead of the first match.
Bangladesh champions Dhaka Abahani Limited was put in Group E of the prestigious AFC Cup along with Minerva Punjab (India), Manang Marshyangdi Club (Nepal) and Chennaiyin FC (India) to meet each other in home and away basis.
The popular sky-blue Dhanmondi outfit Abahani will play their home match against Indian Minerva Punjab on April 17 at the Bangabandhu National Stadium here at 5:45 pm (local time), face Chennaiyin FC of India on April 30 in their home away match at Arena Stadium in Ahmedabad, India.
In the remaining group matches, Dhaka Abahani Limited will play two home matches against Chennaiyin FC on May 15 and ManangMarshyangdi Club of Nepal on June 19, both at Bangabandhu National Stadium and will play their last away match against Minerva Punjab of India on June 26 at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.
In a pre-match press briefing on Tuesday, Abahani skipper Shahidul Alam Sohel said,” We came to Kathmandu to get three points against MMC, the MMC team is also a good side, they will play at home, but, we will fight for full three points.
Dhaka Abahani coach Mario Lemos said, "I have followed them (opponents), they have some good players, who played in Bangladesh, Nepalese skipper Biraj Maharjan is there. I really like Heman Gurung, who loves to take lot of shots outside the box.”
“We understand the strength of Nepalese league champions Manang Marshyangdi Club, we know it will be hard game for us, But we have energy and motivation for the match” he added.
MMC skipper Biraj Maharjan said they were mentally and physically ready to play against the Bangladeshi side.
Manang Marshayngdi Club (MMC) coach Chirring Lopsang Gurung said his players were highly motivated ahead of Dhaka Abahani match in AFC Cup 2019.
Speaking at a pre-match conference Gurung said, "We wanted to set camp for longer period but we couldn't do so due to national team schedule. When we had all players, we did good preparation in short time.
"We are playing at home. We are well prepared. I am glad that my players are highly motivated for the match", added Gurung.
Coach Gurung also added that he wanted to take the team to second round. "We have some players on loan from other clubs. Team looks in good shape. Honestly speaking, our target is to go second round. We need to start with a win. It is going to be 50-50 affair against Dhaka Abahani. All we need to do is utilize goal scoring chances",
Dhaka Abahani played in different Asian tournaments 10 times including five times in the AFC President’s Cup and two times in the AFC Cup, but never managed a 2nd round berth. But, reached the 2nd round once in the Asian Cup Winner Cup in 1998.
Abahani footballers: ShahidulAlamSohel, NayeemMiah, Sultan Ahmed Shakil, (GK), RayhanHasan, Waly Faisal, Tutul Hossain Badsha, Mamun Miah (Defender), Jewel Rana, AtiqurRahmanFahad, Imtiaz Sultan Jitu, Mamunul Islam Mamun, Sohel Rana, Pranotosh Kumar Das (Mid Field), Nabib Newaz Ziban, Rubel Miya, Faisal Ahmed, Sunday Chizoba, MasihSaighani, Kervens Belfort and Wellington Cirino Priori.
Officials: Harunur Rashid (Head of Delegation), Satyajit Das Rupu (Manager), Mario Licinio Guerreiro Lemos (Head Coach), SM Zakaria (Coach), Atikur Rahman (Goal Keeper Coach),Shah Alam Chowdhury (Media Manager),Subash Shome, Ali Yakub, Kazi Nazrul Islam (Officials) and Atiqul Islam (Physio)