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2025-07-02

Nepal secure second consecutive win, defeat Sri Lanka 8-0

Nepal took a major step towards booking their ticket to the Finals after cruising to a 8-0 win over Sri Lanka in their AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ Qualifiers Group F tie at the Bunyodkor Stadium on Wednesday.

The win sees Nepal on six points, with the South Asian side to meet Uzbekistan on Saturday.

Having defeated Laos 9-0 in their opener, Nepal showed they meant business when they took the lead in the seventh minute after Anita Basnet sent a perfect corner for Gita Rana to head home.

Anita was in the thick of things again in the 20th minute when she pounced on a poor clearance from Sakura Sewwandi Subasinghe to set up Sabitra Bhandari for an easy finish.

Sri Lanka were caught again in the 42nd minute when Rashmi Kumari Ghising prodded inside the box before cutting back to Sabitra, who finished with a looping effort over Sakura before completing her hat-trick with a stoppage time header.

Nepal increased the tempo in the second half and the pressure caused Sri Lanka to concede a penalty after Rashmi was brought down inside the area, with Gita converting from the spot in the 54th minute.

Nisha Thokar then added more woe to Sri Lanka after finding the net in the 62nd minute following Anita’s corner with substitute Rekha Poudel then etching her name on the scoresheet in the 78th minute to nod home Nepal’s seventh.

Puja Rana got into the action, netting Nepal’s eighth goal of the evening to cap another impressive outing for Patrick De Wilde’s side.

-AFC (Photo: AFC)

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2025-06-29

Nepal thrash Laos 9-0 in 100th international match

The Nepal national women’s football team marked a historic milestone in style, registering a commanding 9-0 victory over Laos in their 100th international match. The win also kicked off their AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers campaign on a high note in Uzbekistan.

Captain Sabitra Bhandari, leading the team for the first time, delivered a sensational performance by scoring four goals. Anita Basnet, Saru Limbu, Rashmi Kumari Ghising, and Anita KC also found the back of the net, while Laos added to their woes with an own goal late in the game.

Nepal took the lead in the 12th minute when Basnet converted a pass from Bhandari with a powerful left-footed strike. Bhandari then made it 2-0 just before half-time. The momentum continued after the break, with Saru Limbu scoring in the 48th minute and Bhandari netting her second in the 55th.

Rashmi Kumari Ghising added the fifth in the 58th minute, and Bhandari completed her hat-trick in the 74th before scoring her fourth goal five minutes later. Anita KC made it 8-0 in the 83rd minute, and a late own goal by Saysamone Inthaphone sealed a comprehensive win for Nepal.

Nepal have been drawn in Group F alongside Laos, hosts Uzbekistan and Sri Lanka.

Nepal will play their second match against Sri Lanka on July 2. 

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2025-06-29

Sabitra Bhandari named captain of Nepal national women’s football team

Forward Sabitra Bhandari has been appointed captain of the Nepal national women’s football team.

Head coach Patrick De Wilde handed her the captain’s armband ahead of Nepal’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers opener against Laos in Uzbekistan.

Nepal is placed in Group F alongside hosts Uzbekistan, Laos, and Sri Lanka. The qualifiers will be held from June 29 to July 5.

Bhandari, Nepal’s all-time leading goal scorer, becomes the 11th player to captain the national women’s team.

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2025-06-23

ANFA bids farewell to national women’s team ahead of AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers

The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) held a farewell ceremony on Sunday for the Nepal national women’s football team as they prepare to leave for Uzbekistan to compete in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers.

Secretary at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Dr. Hari Prasad Lamsal, attended the ceremony as the chief guest. ANFA President Pankaj Bikram Nembang, Vice President Dawa Lama, Acting General Secretary Damodar Bhattarai, Executive Committee Members Sarila Shrestha and Tika Lama, and Chief Executive Officer Indraman Tuladhar were also present at the event to extend their best wishes to the team.

Nepal is set to compete in Group B alongside hosts Uzbekistan, Laos, and Sri Lanka in the qualifiers scheduled from June 29 to July 5.

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