Nepal APF Club to participate in inaugural AFC Women’s Champions League

KATHMANDU: Nepal APF Club will participate in the inaugural AFC Women’s Champions League.

Issuing a statement on Wednesday, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said the AFC Women’s Champions League will feature one club from each of the 22 member associations that showed interest in participating in the competition.

“Clubs from the top eight member associations, as ranked by the latest FIFA Women’s World Ranking (as of March 15, 2024), will qualify directly for the Group Stage,” it added.

There will be three groups of four teams each, which will compete in a centralized league format from October 6 to 12.

“The remaining 14 clubs will have to make it through the Preliminary Stage, which features four groups – two groups of four teams and two groups of three – to be played in a centralized league format between August 25 and 31,” the AFC said.

Four group winners will qualify for the Group Stage.

Urawa Red Diamond Ladies (Japan), Naegohyang Women’s FC (North Korea), Melbourne City FC (Australia), Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC (China), Hyundai Steel Red Angels Women’s FC (South Korea), Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC (Vietnam), Kaya FC-Iloilo (the Philippines), and Taichung Blue Whale Women’s Football Team (Chinese Taipei) have directly qualified for the Group Stage.

Nepal APF Club is the most successful team in the National Women’s League, having won five out of 12 titles. It is the champion of the past three editions.