Final women’s footballsquad for Lebanon announced

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, June 27: The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) has revealed a 22-member squad for the national women’s team competing in the quadrangular tournament in Lebanon in July.

Lebanon has invited Nepal, Jordan and Bangladesh for the ‘Cedars International Women’s Friendly Tournament’ on July 10-16 at Rashid Karami International in Tripoli.

While the tournament was confirmed by the Lebanese Football Association on June 21, Nepal was assured a spot in the tournament beforehand. Following the assurance, the ANFA, on June 2, called 30 players for a closed training camp. On June 14, the squad was reduced to 25 players. 

Now, the ANFA has finalised a 22-member squad for the tournament consisting of teams with which Nepal has competed recently. 

Nepal defeated Lebanon in the 8th WAFF Women’s Championship semi-final and lost to Jordan in penalties in the final. On the other hand, Nepal lost to Bangladesh in the 6th SAFF Women’s Championship final in 2022. 

“Head coach of the national women's football team Rajendra Tamang announced his squad on Wednesday,” read a statement by the ANFA. 

Nepal will be looking to bag the first international trophy by defeating Bangladesh and Jordan, two teams who have disallowed the women’s team from creating history in the past two finals. 

Nepal will kick off their campaign in Lebanon by facing Jordan on the first day. This will be Nepal's chance to avenge their loss to Jordan in the WAFF Women’s Championship final, where they lost the match in a tie-breaker. 

Nepal's second outing will be against Bangladesh on July 13 and then face the host country Lebanon on July 16. 

The top two teams from the round-robin league will secure spots in the final of the Cedars International tournament.

Squad

(Gks) Anjila Tumbapo Subba, Anjana Rana Magar, Usha Nath; (Dfds): Amrita Jaishi, Gita Rana, Hira Kumari Bhujel, Bimala BK, Nisha Thokar, Puja Rana, Samikshya Ghimire; (Mfds): Renuka Nagarkoti, Saru Limbu, Anita Basnet, Sabita Rana Magar, Dipa Shahi, Anita KC, Preeti Rai, Amisha Karki, Bimala Chaudhary; (Fwds): Sabitra Bhandari, Rekha Poudel, Rashmi Kumari Ghising.