Youth Football

The Lalit Memorial ANFA U-18 Youth League officially began today at the ANFA Complex in Satdobato, with the participation of 12 ‘A’ Division clubs.

The participating clubs in this year’s league are: APF Football Club, Church Boys United, Friends Club, Machhindra Club, Manang Marsyangdi Club, Nepal Police Club, New Road Team (NRT), Planning Boys United, Sankata Club, Satdobato Youth Club, Shree Bhagawati Club, and Tribhuvan Army Football Club.

The opening match of the league ended in a goalless draw between Sankata FC and Machhindra FC, marking a competitive start to the tournament.

The league was inaugurated by ANFA President Pankaj Bikram Nembang, who formally opened the competition by handing over the match ball to the match officials. The opening ceremony was also attended by ANFA Vice President Dawa Lama, General Secretary Kiran Rai, Executive Committee Members Maniraj Bista, Bikash Narayan Shrestha, and Bhojraj Shahi, along with CEO Indraman Tuladhar, Treasurer Rabindra Joshi, and other officials.

Following the opening ceremony, ANFA officials and dignitaries paid tribute at the statue of ANFA’s former Acting President Late Lalit Krishna Shrestha, located within the ANFA Complex. ANFA President Pankaj Bikram Nembang, Vice President Dawa Lama, General Secretary Kiran Rai, Executive Committee Members, and other personalities offered floral garlands and khadas in his honour.

The Lalit Memorial ANFA U-18 Youth League is being organized in remembrance of Late Lalit Krishna Shrestha.

The ANFA U-16 Youth League concluded successfully with Nepal Police Club emerging as champions, capping off an impressive campaign with a dominant 6–0 victory over Jawalakhel Youth Club in their final match.

Machhindra Youth Club finished as runners-up despite a hard-fought 3–2 defeat against Friends Club in their last fixture. Machhindra needed a win and also had to rely on Nepal Police Club dropping points to claim the title, but Nepal Police maintained their winning momentum to secure the championship.

In the individual awards, Nepal Police Club’s Samir Kumar was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament. Bikash Thapa of Machhindra Football Club claimed the Highest Scorer award with an outstanding tally of 30 goals, while Bishesh Gurung of Manang Marsyangdi Club won the Best Goalkeeper award. Each individual award winner received NRs 15,000.

Nepal Police Club were awarded NRs 100,000 as league champions, while second-placed Machhindra Youth Club received NRs 50,000. Tribhuvan Army Football Club was honoured with the Fair Play Award.

The closing ceremony was graced by Mayor of Tokha Municipality Prakash Adhikari, FIFA’s Regional Technical Consultant Chokey Nima and General Secretary Kiran Rai, who jointly handed over trophies, medals, and prizes to the players and club officials.

ANFA Executive Committee Members Bikash Narayan Shrestha, Manish Joshi, and Bhojraj Shahi were also present at the ceremony.

The national U-17 men’s football team has been formally bid farewell as they set off for Myanmar to compete in the AFC U-17 Asian Cup Qualifiers. Nepal has been placed in a Group G alongside hosts Myanmar, Afghanistan, Syria, and Oman.

At the farewell ceremony, ANFA General Secretary Kiran Rai extended his best wishes to the team. Former central committee members Purushottam Thapa and Bikash Narayan Shrestha, ANFA CEO Indraman Tuladhar, and ANFA Spokesperson Suresh Shah were also present to offer encouragement and motivation to the young squad.

Nepal will open its qualification campaign on November 22 against Syria, followed by matches against hosts Myanmar on November 24, Oman on November 26, and Afghanistan on November 28.

Players: Prashant Moktan (C), Ram Thami, Laxman Thami, Nis Kumar Shrestha, Bhuban Kami, Bhupesh Lama, Sujan Syangtan, Samir Kumar, Digbijaya Shahi, Susan Thapa Magar, Anamol Karki, Pemba Norbu Bhote, Bishesh Baniya, Ram Bahadur Bohara, Pemba Tamang, Sanjay Hemram, Dipen Karki, Mausam Rokaya, Pratis Thapa Magar, Anoj Khadka, Nasib Hemjan, Nischal Magar, Birendra Malla

Officials: Sanjeet Singh (Head Coach), Ram Chandra Thapa Magar (Asst Coach), Dev Kumar Maden (Asst Coach), Prabin Khachhe Shrestha (GK Coach), Binod Bhattarai (Physiotherapist), Dharmendra Kumar Yadav (Team Doctor), Rajendra Chitrakar (Media Officer)

The ANFA U-14 Inter-School Football Tournament concluded successfully in Ghodaghodi Municipality, Kailali, under the chief guestship of Mayor Khadak Raut.

In the boys’ category, Shree Mohanyal Namuna Secondary School from Bhajani, Kailali emerged as the champions, while Shree Satyawati Academy from Godawari–Attariya finished as the runners-up.

In the girls’ category, Shree Durga Bhawani Secondary School of Godawari Municipality, Syaula secured the title, with Shree Kanti Rajya Laxmi Secondary School of Ghodaghodi Municipality declared the runners-up.

The tournament also recognized outstanding individual performances, with Suman Adhikari of Satyawati Academy and Suchana Nyaopane of Kanti Rajya Laxmi Secondary School being awarded Star of the Tournament in the boys’ and girls’ categories respectively.

The highest goal scorers were Bhuvan Bohara from Mohanyal Secondary School (boys) and Saraswoti Bisht (girls).

The Outstanding Coach awards went to Santosh Karki of Satyawati Academy (boys) and Rajesh Saud of Durga Bhawani Secondary School (girls).

Chaitanya Pathshala and Om New Star, Lamki received the Fair Play awards in the boys’ and girls’ categories respectively, while Krishna Nepali of Mohanyal Secondary School and Kamala Thakulla of Durga Bhawani Secondary School were honored as Best Goalkeepers.

The event saw notable presence of dignitaries including Sudurpaschim Province Sports Council Member-Secretary Lok Bahadur Khadka, Sudurpaschim Province Football Association Vice-President Binod Bishta, and various elected representatives.

The program was chaired by Raj Bahadur Thapa, Acting President of the Kailali District Football Association.

The final squad of the national U-17 men’s football team has been confirmed.

Head coach Sanjeet Singh announced his 23-member squad on Saturday. The team will compete in the SAFF U-17 Championship, scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka from September 15 to 27, 2025.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Pemba Norbu Bhote, Ram Bohara, Bishesh Baniya

Defenders: Prashant Moktan, Dipen Karki, Dhiraj Rawal, Aditya Rana Magar, Bhuban Kami, Anmol Karki, Mausam Rokaya, Anoj Khadka

Midfielders: Prashant Menyangbo, Ram Thami, Krishta Bhandari, Pratish Thapa Magar, Bhupesh Lama, Nasib Henjan, Sushan Magar, Sujan Syangtan

Forwards: Samir Kumar, Dig Bijay Shahi, Nis Kumar Shrestha, Rohit Shrestha

File photo

The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) bid farewell to the national U-23 team travelling to Tajikistan for the AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qualifiers.

ANFA President Pankaj Bikram Nembang, General Secretary Kiran Rai, Ex-Co Member Purushottam Thapa, and Spokesperson Suresh Shah extended their best wishes to the squad during a farewell program held at Dees Boutique Hotel, Koteshwor.

The team is scheduled to fly to Tajikistan on Sunday morning. Nepal has been drawn in Group K, alongside hosts Tajikistan, Syria, and the Philippines.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Krishal Moktan, Amit Tamata, Bishal KC

Defenders: Bibek Gurung, Bishal Nepali, Lahan Subba, Nigma Lama, Ram Thapa, Sankar Tharu, Semanta Thapa

Midfielders: Abhishek Sengtang, Aayush Ghalan, Aron Thapa, Niraj Karki, Dipesh Gurung, Kritish Ratna Chunju, Pujan Thapa, Sanjeev Lama, Santosh Khatri, Sujan Magar, Sumit Shrestha

Forwards: Rohan Khadgi, Nirajan Dhami

Officials: Damodar Bhattarai (Head of Delegation), Nabin Neupane (Head Coach), Sasendra Dhimal (Coach), Nabin Maharjan (Goalkeeping Coach), Pradeep Badal (Physiotherapist), Amrit Man Shrestha (Team Manager), Bikram Shrestha (Assistant Manager), Sandeep Khadka (Security Manager), Raju Dangol Maharjan (Team Doctor), Avash Ghimire (Media), Bikash Maharjan (Official)