Philippines Squad for ACQ vs Nepal named

The Philippines in their last meeting against Nepal at Rizal Memorial.

The Philippine Football Federation on Monday named officially called up 23 individuals for national team duty against Nepal.

These players will be participating in Matchday 5 of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers, which will take place on November 14, 2017 at the ANFA Complex in Kathmandu.

The Azkals are currently atop the Group F standings with eight points in four matches, whilst Nepal is at the bottom of the group with a solitary point. A win for the Thomas Dooley-coached side will ensure a berth in the AFC Asian Cup Finals in two years' time at the UAE with a match to spare.

Rizal Memorial hosted their earlier meeting in the ACQ, with a 4-1 win for the Philippines. Phil Younghusband netted a brace, with Iain Ramsay and Javier Patino each scoring a goal.

Here are the 23 men called up for national team duty

Marwin Angeles (Kaya FC-Makati)
Fitch Arboleda (Stallion Laguna FC)
Misagh Bahadoran (Global Cebu FC)
Dylan De Bruycker (Davao Aguilas FC)
Carlie de Murga (Ceres-Negros FC)
Patrick Deyto (Global Cebu FC)
Curt Dizon (FC Meralco Manila)
Joshua Dutosme (Ceres-Negros FC)
Neil Etheridge (Cardiff City FC)
Kevin Ingreso (Ceres-Negros FC)
Sean Kane (JPV Marikina FC)
Hikaru Minegeshi (Global Cebu FC)
Paul Mulders (Global Cebu FC)
Junior Munoz (Ceres-Negros FC)
Nick O'Donnell (Davao Aguilas FC)
Mike Ott (Angthong United)
Iain Ramsay (Ceres-Negros FC)
Simone Rota (Davao Aguilas FC)
Paolo Salenga (Global Cebu FC)
Daisuke Sato (AC Horsens)
Dennis Villanueva (Global Cebu FC)
James Younghusband (Davao Aguilas FC)
Phil Younghusband (Davao Aguilas FC)

Injuries are keeping Patino, Amani Aguinaldo, Manny Ott, and Luke Woodland from being called-up, while making their first call-up to the senior side are Dutosme and Salenga. Meanwhile, Angeles gets called up for the first time in three years, while Bahadoran returns after an injury prevented him from being called up for the ACQ against Yemen last month.

Stefano Marsella is assisting Dooley in this particular Qualifier.