Nepal aim to win title on home soil as Int'l Women's Football Championship kicks off today

By Pramod Joshi,Kathmandu, Feb. 17: After a disappointing performance in the SAFF Women's Championship, the Nepali national women's football team is determined not to waste another chance to win a title on home soil when the International Women's Football Championship kicks off at Dashrath Rangashala in Kathmandu on Monday, February 17.

On October 30, 2024, Nepal came close to winning an international football title at home but ultimately lost to Bangladesh in the final, with a score of 2-1. Nearly three and a half months later, international women's football returns to the nation's only international stadium, where Nepal will compete against the national teams of Myanmar, Lebanon, and Kyrgyzstan.

Each team will face all the others, and the top two teams in the league stage will earn a spot in the final. The tournament will begin with Nepal facing Kyrgyzstan on Monday at 6:00 PM NST, preceded by the opening match between Myanmar and Lebanon at 2:00 PM.

During a pre-match press conference held at Dasharath Stadium on Sunday, representatives from all four teams expressed their eagerness to perform at their best and lift the winner's trophy. Nepal's coach, Rajendra Tamang, stated that his team is prepared for a strong start in the tournament. "We have completed all our preparations. Captain Anjila from Greece and Rekha Poudel from Dubai have already arrived. Our key player, Sabitra Bhandari (Samba), will also arrive by Monday morning. With their presence, my team's morale has been further boosted."

Tamang noted that Kyrgyzstan is not the same opponent they faced six years ago when Nepal won 8-2 in the NAZDA Cup in 2019. "We haven’t played against them since, and they have improved significantly. We will need to employ a strong strategy and pay attention to their counterattacks," he said.

He acknowledged that Myanmar and Lebanon are also strong teams. Nepal has previously beaten Lebanon during the WAFF Championship, but they have never won against Myanmar, with two of their encounters going in favour of Myanmar and one in a draw. "Nevertheless, we will use our home advantage and the support of our fans. We aim to play excellently in all the matches and keep the trophy at home," Coach Tamang added.

Similarly, Nepali team captain Anjila Tumbapo Subba stated that the tournament is a great opportunity for women's football. "After SAFF, we are excited to compete in a major tournament, which has made both the players and Nepali supporters very happy. We have developed good teamwork, and now it's time to prove ourselves on the field instead of just talking," said Captain Subba. "While all the participating teams are strong, the Nepali players have high morale and are determined to address our weaknesses and mistakes in defence."

The coaches and captains of Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, and Lebanon also emphasized their commitment to playing well in the tournament. Kyrgyzstan's coach, Nematzhan Zakirov, mentioned that his team has not played in any tournaments recently and has only participated in friendly matches. "We aim to play well in this tournament and give a strong fight for the title," he stated. Captain Dilnura Abibulla Kyzy expressed confidence, saying that despite their young squad, they are here to win.

Lebanon's Coach Wael Gharzeddine acknowledged that Nepal is a tough opponent and highlighted the improvements in his team since losing to Nepal 2-1 in their last matchup.

Lebanon's captain, Nathalie Matar, noted that many of her players have been busy playing in foreign leagues, which has limited their training opportunities. However, she remains determined to compete for the title. 

Myanmar, ranked 55th in FIFA, is regarded as a strong contender in the tournament. Head coach Tetsuro Uki said rankings do not matter once the match begins. He emphasized that Nepal is physically strong and that his team is not underestimating the hosts.

Organized by the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), this tournament will run until February 26. Nepal's second match is against Lebanon on February 20, followed by their third match against Myanmar on February 23. ANFA considers this tournament a valuable preparation for the upcoming AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers.