Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) has announced a 23-member Nepali national women’s football team for the International Women’s Championship.
Defender Manmaya Damai and midfielder Sushma Tamang have been included in the team for the first time. Similarly, Chandra Bhandari and Saraswati Hamal have successfully made their return to the team.
Manmaya played for Nepal APF Club and Sushma from Waling Municipality in the recently-held National Women’s League. The two have been picked as replacements for midfielder Deepa Shahi and defender Hira Kumari Bhujel who are injured.
Goalkeeper Savitri Kishan, who was named the best goalkeeper in the women’s league, however, could not make it to the final squad. Head Coach Rajendra Tamang had included her in the initial 30-member squad.
The four-nation International Women’s Championship is being seen as Nepal’s preparation for the AFC Asian Cup and FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Nepal will compete with Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar and Lebanon in the tournament. Nepal will play its first match against Kyrgyzstan on February 17. It will then face Lebanon on February 20 and Myanmar on February 23.
Myanmar (55th) is above Nepal (103rd) in the FIFA ranking, while Kyrgyzstan (128th) and Lebanon (134th) are below Nepal.
Nepal defeated Lebanon 2-1 in the 2024 WAFF Women’s Championship. Similarly, Nepal has met Myanmar four times, drawing one and losing three matches. Similarly, Nepal thrashed Kyrgyzstan 8-2 in Najda Cup in 2019.
Final Squad:
Goalkeepers:
Anjila Tumbapo Subba (Captain), Anjana Ranamagar, Usha Nath
Defenders:
Amrita Jaisi, Gita Rana, Bimala BK, Puja Rana, Nisha Thokar, Samiksha Ghimire, Manmaya Damai
Midfielders:
Anita Basnet, Renuka Nagarkote, Preeti Rai, Saru Limbu, Sabita Ranamagar, Saraswati Hamal, Bimala Chaudhary, Susma Tamang
Strikers:
Sabitra Bhandari, Rashmikumari Ghising, Chandra Bhandari, Anita KC, Rekha Poudel
