Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Football development can happen through various means, and playing against stronger teams is often considered one of them. Head Coach of the Nepali National Women’s Team, Ananta Thapa, shares this sentiment.
“Our team can be developed only by playing against stronger sides like Vietnam,” Thapa said ahead of the 2024 Olympics Qualifier against Vietnam.
Thapa’s perspective is not something that is previously unheard of. Playing against tougher opponents is a recognized strategy for team progression. It is a simple yet crucial aspect of football development, yielding both short-term and long-term results.
Short-term results will come immediately after Nepal’s match against Vietnam at the Dasharath Stadium on Wednesday, and it could potentially sadden Head Coach Thapa and Nepali football lovers. This is because Vietnam is considered the strongest opponent that the Nepali national women’s team has faced in the 21st century. Nepal did play against Japan in the 1980s and 1990s, but women’s football was not well-developed in Nepal at that time. As former Nepali captain Rama Singh has pointed out, the women’s team was formed then only because it was made mandatory by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
Thapa is aware that Wednesday’s result will definitely impact the national team, which is why he has set a target of entering the second round by defeating Vietnam. It may look impossible, but Nepal has done it before. It entered the second round of the 2020 Olympics Qualifier from Group ‘C’ as the ‘best third team’.
“We have talented players. Hopefully, they will perform well. Our target is to enter the second round,” Thapa said. “We will prepare a strategy for the second game based on the result of the first game.”
Vietnam is considered one of the top teams in women’s football in Asia, not only based on their FIFA ranking, but also due to their recent qualification for the 2023 World Cup.
Nepal is placed in Group ‘C’ which originally included Palestine and Afghanistan. However, with the withdrawal of these two teams, only Nepal and Vietnam remain in the group. This means that either Nepal or Vietnam will advance to the second round.
The second match will be played at the Dasharath Stadium on Saturday.
“The withdrawal of the other two teams doesn’t matter much. Vietnam would still be our main competitor even if the other two nations were playing,” he added. “Vietnam is a strong opponent, and we need to be fully prepared for the match.”
Vietnam is considered one of the top teams in women’s football in Asia, not only based on their FIFA ranking, but also due to their recent qualification for the 2023 World Cup. Vietnam will be joining Asia’s Big Three – Japan, China, and South Korea – as well as the Philippines in playing in the 2023 World Cup, which will be held in Australia and New Zealand in July. This is a historic moment for Vietnam and the Philippines as they have qualified for the World Cup for the first time.
To prepare for the 2023 Olympics Qualifier, Nepal played two friendlies against India in February, with both matches ending in draws. Thapa mentioned that these matches provided valuable insights into the strengths and weaknesses of the team, and the players themselves became more aware of their capabilities, which has boosted their morale for the upcoming qualifier against Vietnam.
Team captain Anjila Limbu said Nepal will play a fearless game despite Vietnam’s higher rank. “Ranking doesn’t matter much. We have shown what we are capable of by holding Myanmar in a draw,” she added. “Nobody plays for a defeat. We will take the field eyeing victory.”
Vietnam has analyzed the Nepali team by watching its two games against India. Vietnam Coach Mai Duc Chung said he was impressed by Nepal’s performance. “We haven’t played against Nepal before. But we have watched their game,” the septuagenarian coach said. “Nepal’s No.9 (Sabitra) impressed me a lot.”
Chung said he hasn’t underestimated the host. “Nepal is playing well in recent matches. Therefore, we are cautious,” he added.
He, however, is not happy that the other two teams of the group have withdrawn. “It would have been great playing against them. It would be good preparation for us before the World Cup,” he added.
Vietnam Captain Huỳnh Như also shared similar thoughts. “Nepal is gradually becoming strong in the women’s football scene. Therefore, the game against them won’t be an easy one. But we are here for victory. We will make all efforts to win the game,” Như, who plays in the Portuguese league, said.
“We may be higher in FIFA ranking, but we have huge respect for Nepal. We have seen how Nepal played against India. We know how strong the Nepali side is,” she said. “We should be careful.”
Match Details
Event: 2024 Olympics Qualifier
Match: Nepal vs Vietnam
Kick Off: 6 pm
Venue: Dasharath Stadium
Live On: NTV Plus
