Malaysia wary of Nepal under coach Hari Khadka

Malaysia entered the match against Nepal at Bukit Jalil Stadium on November 18 (2025 Asian Cup qualifiers) with a proactive and cautious attitude. The home team has 12 absolute points and aims to end 2025 with an unbeaten streak, but the "unknown" from the opponent's bench forced coach Peter Cklamovski and his team to prepare for all scenarios.

The unknown of Nepal under Hari Khadka

Nepal just changed coach on October 31, when coach Hari Khadka was appointed to replace Australian strategist Matt Rose. As a famous former striker of Nepalese football, Khadka is expected to bring new vitality to the "Gurkhas" team. Despite the urgent time budget, he kept most of the old frame, at the same time experimenting with some tactical adjustments to help the playing style be more flexible.

Before heading to Malaysia, Nepal will play a friendly against Bangladesh in Dhaka. This is the first “test” under the new regime and also an opportunity for the Malaysian coaching staff to observe and collect data on how their opponents operate in the context of a possible tactical system refresh.

Cklamovski alert, unbeaten goal

Coach Peter Cklamovski stressed caution when facing a team that has just changed its coaching position: “Nepal has a new coach, which means they can play in a completely different way. We will prepare carefully for every scenario and cannot be subjective.”

The coach who led Malaysia to 118th place in FIFA also clearly defined his goal: “We want to end this year with the joy of the fans. The whole team will make the most of the preparation time to play at their best.”

Nepal's recent data: resilient but thirsty for points

In the most recent match, Nepal played resiliently against Vietnam but lost 0-1 in Ho Chi Minh City after Suman Shrestha's own goal in the 5th minute. After four matches, the South Asian team still has no points, but the fighting spirit and desire to perform are factors that Malaysia cannot ignore, especially when the opponent has just welcomed a new coach.

Group stage: Malaysia is the upper hand and the need for concentration

In theory, with 12 absolute points, Malaysia is the leading candidate for the top spot. However, a Nepal that is innovating and playing with the mentality of "nothing to lose" will be a test of the concentration and mettle of Cklamovski's team. From the advantage of the Bukit Jalil home ground to the stability of the personnel, Malaysia has many favorable conditions, but the uncertainty coming from new coach Hari Khadka requires the home team to control the tempo, minimize mistakes and be ready to adjust according to the situation.

In short, Malaysia's message is clear: respect the opponent, prepare carefully for all options and aim for a complete victory to close the qualifying round to the satisfaction of the fans.