Women Football

Head coach Rajendra Tamang has trimmed the national women’s team squad to 31 players as preparations continue for two upcoming friendlies against Thailand.

Nepal is set to play two matches in Bangkok — a behind-closed-doors training match on May 30, followed by an international friendly on June 2.

These matches are part of the team’s build-up to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ Qualifiers, which begin on May 4. Nepal has been drawn into Group F alongside Laos, Sri Lanka, and Uzbekistan.

Coach Tamang has been assigned to lead the team specifically for the Thailand fixtures.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Anjila Tumbapo Subba, Anjana Rana Magar, Usha Nath, Lila Joshi

Defenders: Gita Rana, Nisha Thokar, Amrita Jaishi, Puja Rana, Bimala BK, Man Maya Damai, Samikshya Ghimire, Pratikshya Chaudhary, Sabina Chaudhary

Midfielders: Renuka Nagarkote, Preeti Rai, Saru Limbu, Saraswati Hamal, Hima Raut, Tulsa Bohara, Bimala Chaudhary, Anita Basnet, Sabita Rana Magar, Sushma Tamang

Forwards: Sabitra Bhandari, Rekha Poudel, Rashmi Kumari Ghising, Anita KC, Chandra Bhandari, Mina Deuba, Mamata Pun, Purnima Rai

The national women’s team is set to begin their closed camp for the upcoming AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ Qualifiers starting May 4.

Head coach Rajendra Tamang has named 48 players in his preliminary squad for the camp.

As part of their preparations for the Qualifiers, Nepal will play two friendly matches against Thailand. The first will be a behind-closed-doors training match on May 30, followed by an international friendly on June 2. Both matches will take place in Bangkok.

Nepal has been drawn alongside Laos, Sri Lanka, and Uzbekistan in Group F of the Qualifiers.

Preliminary squad

Goalkeepers: Anjila Turnbapo Subba, Anjana Rana Magar, Kopila Khadka, Lila Joshi, Sabitri Kishan, Usha Nath

Defenders: Amrita Jaisi, Bimala B.K., Gita Rana, Manmaya Damai, Nisha Thokar, Puja Rana, Pratikchya Chaudhary, Sabina Chaudhary, Sajani Thokar, Samiksha Ghimire, Semi Hangma Limbu Pandhak, Yasodha Shahi.

Midfielders: Anita Basnet, Anjali Chand, Bimala Chaudhary, Birsana Chaudhary, Hema Chaudhary, Hema Rawat, Kushum Khatiwoda, Preeti Rai, Renuka Nagarkoti, Sabita Rana Magar, Sahara Limbu, Samjhana Lawati, Saraswati Hamal, Saru Limbu, Senu Pariyar, Sukhriya Sukluku, Sukriya Miya, Sushma Tamang, Tulsha Bohara.

Forwards: Anita KC, Anita Lamjel, Chandra Bhandari, Jenifer Magar, Mamata Pun, Mina Deuba, Purnima Rai, Rashimi Kumari Ghising, Rekha Paudel, Sabitra Bhandari, Samiksha Magar

Teams hoping to earn passage discovered their opponents following the conclusion of the AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026™ Qualifiers draw at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Thursday.

The 34 sides were drawn into six groups of four teams and two groups of five, with the Qualifiers to be hosted by Cambodia, Indonesia, Jordan, Myanmar, Tajikistan, Thailand, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.

The eight group winners will join defending champions China PR, Korea Republic and Japan in the Finals, scheduled to be staged across three host cities from March 1 to 26, 2026.

Group A will see Islamic Republic of Iran, Jordan (H), Lebanon, Singapore and Bhutan battling it out while Thailand (H), India, Mongolia, Timor-Leste and Iraq were drawn in Group B.

Myanmar (H), Bahrain, Bangladesh and Turkmenistan will be the teams vying for the single spot to the Finals in Group C while Chinese Taipei, Indonesia (H), Kyrgyz Republic and Pakistan will fight it out in Group D.

Vietnam (H), Guam, United Arab Emirates and Maldives will slug it out in Group E while Group F will see Uzbekistan (H), Nepal, Laos and Sri Lanka in action.

Group G will feature Philippines, Hong Kong, China, Cambodia (H) and Saudi Arabia while Group H will see DPR Korea, Malaysia, Palestine and Tajikistan (H) competing for the ticket to the Finals.

The Qualifiers will be played from June 23 to July 5.

Myanmar stunned Nepal with a 2-0 victory to claim the title of the Vianet International Women's Championship. Played at the sold-out Dasharath Stadium, Myanmar's clinical second-half performance proved decisive in securing the win.

After a goalless first half, Yu Per Khine broke the deadlock with a brilliant individual effort, slotting the ball into the net from a tight angle in the 62nd minute. Just two minutes later, a shot by captain Win Theingi Tun deflected off Gita Rana and rolled into the net, doubling Myanmar's lead.

In the first half, Nepal applied significant pressure on Myanmar, creating multiple goalscoring opportunities. Sabitra Bhandari forced a save from Myanmar's goalkeeper Khin Mo Mo Tun in the 35th minute, but the rebound was not capitalized on. Rekha Poudel also missed an opportunity just before halftime when she failed to connect with a pass from Renuka Nagarkote.

Myanmar also had their chances, with the best one being cleared off the line by Bimala BK after goalkeeper Anjila Tumbapo Subba was beaten by San Thaw Thaw's powerful shot.

Myanmar came out stronger in the second half, scoring two quick goals to seal their victory. Trailing by two goals, Nepal continued to push for a comeback but struggled to break through Myanmar's solid defense. In the 70th minute, Rashmi Kumari Ghising had a one-on-one chance with the Myanmar keeper, but her shot was saved, dashing Nepal's hopes of reducing the deficit.

Renuka Nagarkote was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament, earning a cash prize of Rs 50,000.

Nepal and Myanmar played out an entertaining 2-2 draw in their final group-stage match of the Vianet International Women's Championship at Dasharath Stadium.

Despite being backed by a passionate home crowd cheering every move, Myanmar took an early lead just six minutes into the match, courtesy of a stunning free-kick from Myat Noe Khin. However, Nepal responded swiftly, equalizing in the 11th minute when Sabitra Bhandari’s brilliant run set up Sabita Rana Magar for a simple finish.

The visitors regained their advantage just five minutes later through May Htet Lu, momentarily silencing the home supporters.

But Nepal, buoyed by their vocal fans, continued to push forward. Their persistence paid off five minutes before halftime, with Sabitra Bhandari finding the net to restore parity.

Despite both teams battling for dominance in the second half, neither could break the deadlock, and the match ended in a 2-2 draw.

Nepal and Myanmar will now face off again in the tournament final on Wednesday.

Sabitra Bhandari's decisive strike secured Nepal a 1-0 victory over Lebanon, sending them into the final of the Vianet International Women's Championship 2025 on Thursday.

Nepal dominated proceedings at Dasharath Stadium but struggled to break down Lebanon’s resilient defense. Bimala Chaudhary had an early opportunity to put Nepal ahead but sent her shot over the bar in the 10th minute.

The breakthrough finally came in the 42nd minute when Lebanon cleared a corner delivered by Chaudhary, only for Bhandari to unleash a powerful shot. The effort deflected off defender Farah El Tayar and found the back of the net.

Sabita Rana Magar had a golden chance to extend Nepal’s lead in the second half but failed to convert Bhandari’s precise cross, sending her shot wide of the post.

In the day’s earlier match, Myanmar cruised to a 5-0 victory over Kyrgyzstan.

Nepal will now compete Myanmar in the final on Wednesday The two sides will also meet in the final group game on Sunday.