Nepal eye Asian Cup return

By Pramod Joshi,Kathmandu, July 5: Nothing less than a victory will do for Nepal as they face Uzbekistan on Saturday in a winner-takes-all showdown for a place at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026.

With both teams level on points and goal difference, the final Group F fixture of Asian Cup Qualifiers in Tashkent is set to be a defining moment. 

For Nepal, it’s a chance to return to the continental stage after a 26-year absence—their last appearance dating back to 1999.

Nepal are bidding for their fourth appearance at the Asian Cup, having debuted in 1986 and returned in 1989 and 1999—all without playing qualifiers. 

A win at the Bunyodkor Stadium would mark their first-ever qualification through the group stage and secure a historic ticket to the finals in Australia.

Captain and star striker Sabitra Bhandari, who has embraced the armband with confidence, echoed the sentiment. “This is a golden chance for our squad. Many of us may not get another opportunity like this,” she said before departing for Uzbekistan. 

Uzbekistan, meanwhile, are desperate to end their own drought. The Central Asian side last featured in the Asian Cup in 2003 and have since failed to qualify despite five attempts. They’ll be equally determined to break their 22-year wait.

Nepal only began participating in Asian Cup qualifiers in 2022, and this campaign represents more than just a shot at continental glory. 

Qualification would also open doors to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 in Brazil and the 2028 Summer Olympics. Of the 12 teams in the Asian Cup, the top six will earn World Cup berths.

Both sides come into the clash brimming with confidence after dominant wins over Laos and Sri Lanka. Nepal thrashed their opponents 9-0 and 8-0 respectively, while Uzbekistan cruised to 10-0 and 7-0 victories. But despite similar form, history favours the hosts.

Nepal have faced Uzbekistan three times and lost on each occasion. Their first meeting came in the 1999 Asian Cup in the Philippines, where Nepal fell 6-1—though it was a landmark match as Pema Dolma scored Nepal’s first-ever international goal. 

The two sides met again at the 2019 Nadezhda Cup in Kyrgyzstan, with Nepal losing 2-0 in the group stage and suffering a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat in the final, despite a spirited second-half brace from Sabitra Bhandari.

Uzbekistan also hold the edge in the FIFA rankings, sitting 46th  compared to Nepal’s 101st , as per the Friday’s ranking.

Saturday’s clash is a do-or-die encounter. If the match ends in a draw, AFC rules stipulate that the game could go straight to penalties, given both teams are tied on all metrics. 

Both Nepal and Uzbekistan are buoyant after back-to-back victories. However they are also cautious against each other. They do not want over confidence sway their decisive match.   

Coach Patrick De Wilde, who has overseen two emphatic wins since taking charge, is urging calm and belief. “We’ll use the two rest days to recharge and prepare. Every player is a game-changer,” he said after the Sri Lanka win. He added his girls will be fighting till the end against Uzbekistan.

On the other hand, Uzbekistan coach Kotryna Kulbyte is equally focused. “We’re going out to win. Everything is equal going into the final match,” she said. “We’ve analysed Nepal’s last two games and will finalise our game plan accordingly.”

With history, rankings, and pride on the line, Saturday’s clash promises to be a gripping contest. For Nepal, it’s more than just a match—it’s a shot at rewriting history.