Hosts Bangladesh target success at AFC Challenge Cup

DHAKA, March 7 (Reuters) Bangladesh believe the advantage of home soil puts them among the leading candidates to win the inaugural AFC Challenge Cup tournament, which starts on April 1.

Sixteen countries from the Asian Football Confederation are to take part in the event with the final on April 16.

''Bangladesh are one of the favourites in the tournament, for which we are working hard,'' said Anwarul Haque, general secretary of Bangladesh Football Federation.

The teams have been split into four groups with India, Chinese Tapei, the Philippines and Afghanistan in Group A, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and Brunei in Group B.

Group C comprises hosts Bangladesh, Palestine, Cambodia and Guam while Group D has Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan and Macau.

Groups A and B will play their matches in Chittagong while Dhaka will host the matches for groups C and D. Two matches will be played in the respective venues every day of the group phase.

Bangladesh open their campaign against Cambodia in Dhaka on April 1, while South Asian Football Federation champions India will take on Afghanistan in Chittagong.

The semi-finals will be played on April 12 and 13 while the final is in Dhaka on April 16.

Group A and B's matches were scheduled to be held in Nepal, but in the wake of political unrest, the programme was switched to Bangladesh.

REUTERS PDS BS1420