Nepal was seized to a 2-2 draw by Afghanistan in their first round round game in the 40th edition of the Merdeka Cup football competition at the Petaling Jaya Stadium.

Playing in soggy environment, Afghanistan portrays first blood in the 68th minute when Hashmatullah Barekzai smash home a precise cross supplied by Mohammad Ibrahim Jebran.

Nevertheless, it acquires Nepal only five minutes to find the equalizer when Anil Gurung found the net.

Bijaya Gurung then put Nepal in front in the 80th minute but Sayed Bashir Azimi saved Afghanistan from trounce when he leveled the score in the 86th minute.

Afghanistan's German club players Jalaluddin Sharityar (SpVgg Weiden), Ata Mohammad Yamrali (ASV Bergedent) and captain Mansor Faqiryar (Vfl Wolfburg) were not fielded tonight as they were information to have come down with fever and diarrhoea after arriving in Malaysia.