Nepali women’s football team leaving for Goa on Friday

KATHMANDU: The Nepali national women’s football team is leaving for Goa, India, on Friday to participate in the SAFF Women’s Championship 2026.

Minister for Education and Sports, Sasmit Pokharel, and other officials formally bade farewell to the team amid a ceremony organized at the ministry on Thursday.

National Sports Council (NSC) Member Secretary Ram Charitra Mehta, officials of the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), and the minister’s sports adviser Siddhi Benjankar were also present on the occasion.

ANFA’s suspension by the NSC had thrown Nepal’s participation in the event into uncertainty. However, NSC’s decision to lift ANFA’s suspension on May 15 paved the way for Nepal’s participation.

Nepal are in Group A alongside Sri Lanka and Bhutan, while Group B features hosts India, Bangladesh, and the Maldives. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals.

The 2026 SAFF Women’s Championship will be held at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium from May 27 to June 8. All member nations of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF), except Pakistan, are participating in the tournament. Nepal are in Group A alongside Sri Lanka and Bhutan, while Group B features hosts India, Bangladesh, and the Maldives. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals.

Nepal will open their campaign against Bhutan on May 25 before facing Sri Lanka on May 31. The semifinals are scheduled for June 3, while the final will be held on June 5.

India are the most successful team in the tournament’s history, having won the titles in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2019. However, Bangladesh have clinched the title in the last two editions.

Nepal, who have reached the final for a record six times, are yet to win the title.

Squad:
Goalkeepers: Anjila Tumbapo Subba (Captain), Anjana Rana Magar, Usha Nath

Defenders: Puja Rana, Bimala BK, Hira Kumari Bhujel, Pratishya Chaudhary, Samikshya Ghimire, Nisha Thokar, Sabina Chaudhary

Midfielders: Renuka Nagarkoti, Dipa Shahi, Preeti Rai, Saru Limbu, Birshana Chaudhary, Anita Basnet, Anita Lamjel, Anita KC

Forwards: Rashmi Ghising, Rekha Poudel, Purnima Rai, Mina Deuba