Nepal’s journey to SAFF Championship ends in group stage

By Prajeet Shakya,Bangalore, June 25: Nepal’s national men’s football team has crashed out from the group stage of the SAFF Championship 2023 after they suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of their arch-rival India at Bangalore Football Stadium, Bangalore, India on Saturday.

Nepal’s dreams to enter the semi-finals were shattered after they suffered a 2-0 defeat ahead of the last match of the group stage against Pakistan on Tuesday. Earlier, Nepal suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Kuwait in the opening match of the tournament.

Captain Sunil Chhetri and Mahesh Naorem netted one goal each to secure India’s place in the semi-finals of the ongoing SAFF Championship 2023.

Nepal and Pakistan have crashed out from group ‘A’ after they suffered a second defeat in a row. Similarly, defending champion and powerhouse of South Asian Football India and Kuwait have cruised into the semi-final of the championship from group ‘A’. 

Defending champion and host India, Kuwait, Pakistan, and Nepal were drawn into the group ‘A’. Nepal failed to win the title of the SAFF Championship in the last edition after they suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of India in the Maldives in 2019.

Captain Sunil Chhetri scored a match-winning goal for India in the 62nd minute beating two defenders of Nepal and connecting the cross off Mahesh Naorem.

Mahesh Naorem doubled India’s tally in the 70th minute scoring in the rebound of Nepal’s goalie Kiran Chemjong in Indian captain Sunil Chhetri’s powerful strike from inside the box.

The first half between Nepal and host India ended in a goalless draw. Nepal made domination over the home team in the first half in the do-or-die clash of the regional championship.

Nepal’s head coach Vincenzo Alberto Annese made a three-change against arch-rival India in his first 11. Alberto included striker Bimal Gharti Magar, defender Devendra Tamang and mid-fielder Ayush Ghalan in his first 11 against India.