Cambodia to host AFC Challenge Cup

Cambodia will host the Group D qualifying matches of the AFC Challenge Cup 2008 from May 24-28, announced AFC on Tuesday.

Nepal, who were originally scheduled to host Group D from May 10- 14, withdrew last month, citing political unrest.

Macau, Nepal, Cambodia and Palestine will fight it out for a place in the eight-team finals in Hyderabad, India (July 30-August 10) with only the group toppers advancing to the main competition.

The revised match schedule will be released shortly.

2006 runners-up Sri Lanka became the first team to qualify for the finals of the second edition on April 6 when they topped Group A comprising Pakistan, Chinese Taipei and Guam.

DPR Korea, Turkmenistan, hosts India and Myanmar have direct entry to the tournament, while the winners of the 2008 and 2010 editions of the AFC Challenge Cup qualify automatically for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup in Doha, Qatar.

Tajikistan won the inaugural edition in 2006 after defeating Sri Lanka in Dhaka, Bangladesh. nepalnews.com bt Apr 16 08