ANFA: All Nepal Football Association

2019-04-09

Asian Olympics Qualifiers Round 2: Nepal 2-1 Indonesia

Sabitra Bhandari scored either side of the break as Nepal Women's Football Team beat Indonesia Women's Football Team 2-1 in their last match of the Group 'A' of te AFC Olympics 2020 Qualifiers Round 2.

Sabitra Bhandari put Nepal in front in the first half and then scored a brilliant winner minutes before the final whistle.

The win mean, Nepal only earned their first points of Round 2.

Nepal and Indonesia both teams were already eliminated after two successive losses in their previous matches against hosts Myanmar and India.

Sabitra Bhandari gave Nepal a half-time lead with her 36th minute opener.

Indonesia played the vast majority of the match with 10 players after goalkeeper Riska Julianti was sent off in the eighth minute, but they still hit back to level through Baiq Amiatun Shalihah who made it 1-1 in the 47th minute.

However, just as it looked like Indonesia might hold on for an unlikely point, Bhandari popped up in the 89th minute to score her second, and give Nepal something to smile about at the end of their campaign.

2019-04-05

Group E: Manang Marshyangdi Club 0-1 Abahani Limited Dhaka

Lalitpur: Bangladesh’s Abahani Limited started their AFC Cup campaign on a winning note with a tough 1-0 win against Nepalese side Manang Marshyangdi Club on Wednesday.

The Nepalese side were playing in the AFC Cup for the first time, in fact it was the first time a Nepalese side had participated in the group stage of the AFC Cup, and they started brightly in front of a vocal home crowd at the ANFA Complex.

It was Chhiring Lopsang Gurung’s side who had the first chance of the game, but Bishal Rai saw his effort easily saved by Shahidul Alam.

Anjan Bista then came close, but his shot too was well saved, this time at the near post.

The visitors took the lead against the run of play just before the half hour mark when Rubel Miya’s cross from the left-hand side was headed home by Masih Saighani at the back post, silencing the home crowd.

Far from being deterred, the home side continued to push forward and came close again when Anjan’s header went just wide of the target as Abahani took a 1-0 lead into half time.

Abahani then came close to doubling their lead, but Sunday Chizoba Nwadialu’s curling effort from the edge of the area bounced back off the woodwork and the striker couldn’t readjust to get the rebound on target.

With the three points in their keeping, Abahani return home to Dhaka to face Indian side Minerva Punjab on Matchday Two, while Manang Marshyangdi Club travel to India to face Chennaiyin.

It was the home side in control again in the second half, but they struggled to find a way past a disciplined Abahani defence.

Their best chance came with 20 minutes remaining when the ball pinballed around the area, eventually falling to Afeez Olawale Oladipo who saw his effort saved on the second attempt by Shahidul.

2019-03-31

Farewell to Women's Team

The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) on Sunday bade farewell to the Nepal Women’s Football Team, which is leaving for Myanmar to participate in the Women’s Olympics Football Tournament 2020 Qualifiers Round 2.

ANFA President Karma Tsering Sherpa, Deputy Chief of mission Embassy of the State of Qatar, Jassim Saleh Ali Al Jaber, among other ANFA officials bade farewell to the team.

The chief guest of the farewell program, Jassim Saleh extended best wishes to the team and expressed his commitment that he would be ready to help Nepalese football.

The group A of the Round 2 has Nepal, Myanmar, India and Indonesia.

Nepal will play its first match on April 3rd against Myanmar, the second after three days against India and on April 9th against Indonesia.

Squads: Amrita Jaishi, Anita Basnet, Anita KC, Anjana Rana Magar, Anjila Tumbapo Subba, Dipa Rai, Gita Rana, Hira Kumari Bhujel, Kabita Dhimal, Manjali Kumari Yonjan, Manmaya Limbu, Niru Thapa, Puja Rana, Punam Jargha Magar, Rekha Poudel, Renuka Nagarkote, Sabitra Bhandari, Saru Limbu, Sharmila Thapa, Usha Nath.

2019-03-22

India crushes Nepal to lift record fifth SAFF Women's title

Yujal Shrestha, ANFA Media

March 22, 2019 - India have beaten Nepal 3-1 at the Sahid Stadium in Biratnagar to take their fifth consecutive SAFF Women’s Championship title today.

Nepal went into half-time level after Sabitra Bhandari had exquisitely equalized Dalima’s opener for India but after the interval had to concede to their opponent’s genius, as Grace Dangmei and Anju Tamang both etched their names on the scoresheet.

Dalima Chhibber (26th) had put India ahead with a rocket in the first half but that lead didn’t last long, as Sabitra Bhandari found a header for the equalizer seven minutes later.

Nepal defender Hira Kumari Bhujel fouled the Indian striker Grace Dangmei 30 yards out in the left flank. Dalima Chhibber got up to send the resulting free kick over the wall and into the top right corner.

Grace Dangmei’s 63rd minute sensational run with the ball into box beating Nepal goalkeeper Anjila Tumbapo Subba put India back in the lead and Anju Tamang shot in the 78th minute made sure the title goes the way to the neighboring side.

India's Dalima Chhibber, Indhumathi Kathiresan and Nepal's Sabitra Bhandari were the winners of the MVP and Top Scorer awards respectively during the championship.

Kathiresan and Bhandari both recorded four goals in the tournament.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh bagged the fair-play award.