Youth Football

Nepal played out a 1–1 draw against Maldives in the SAFF U-20 Championship 2026 in Maldives on Friday.

Mohamed Ilan Imran gave Maldives the lead in the 15th minute, before Nishan Raj Lawat equalised late in the 87th minute to rescue a point for Nepal.

Nepal had secured back-to-back victories earlier in the tournament, defeating Bhutan 2–1 and Sri Lanka 1–0. They will now face Bangladesh in the semi-final on Wednesday.

Nepal registered a 1–0 victory over Sri Lanka in the SAFF U-20 Championship 2026 in Maldives on Wednesday.

Subash Bam scored the decisive goal in the 24th minute to secure Nepal’s second consecutive win in the tournament.

Nepal had earlier defeated Bhutan 2–1 in their opening match. They will face Maldives in their next fixture.

Nepal began their SAFF U-20 Championship campaign with a 2-1 win against Bhutan in the tournament’s opening match in Maldives on Monday.

Sujan Dangol put Nepal ahead in the fifth minute with an indirect free kick. Bhutan were reduced to ten men in the 14th minute after Thinley Yezer was sent off for a second yellow card.

Subash Bam doubled Nepal’s lead in the 52nd minute, before Bhutan pulled one back through Dhendup Gyeltshen in the 83rd minute.

Nepal will play their second match of the tournament against Sri Lanka on Wednesday.

Nepal U-20 final squad has been announced for the upcoming SAFF U-20 Championship, scheduled to be held in the Maldives from March 23 to April 4.

Nepal has been drawn in Group A alongside Maldives, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka. Group B features Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-final stage of the tournament.

Squad: Alik Shrestha, Anubhab Puri, Bhakta Bahadur Pariyar, Bijaya Uranw, Bigyan Khadka, Binayak Tharu, Dharbendra Kunwar (C), Ganesh Pulami Magar, Jhon Bista, Nishan Raj Lawat, Pawan Pakhrin, Pemba Nurbu Bhote, Prashant Moktan, Prasun Tamang, Ranjit Lama, Rohan Moktan, Roshan Tamang, Sabin Kumar Lungeli Magar, Sabin Rai, Siddhant Khadka, Subash Bam, Sujan Basnet, Sujan Dangol

Eighty players have been called up for the initial camp of the Nepal U-20 men’s national team. The list was announced on Sunday by head coach Urjan Shrestha, who will lead the team in the upcoming SAFF U-20 Championship, scheduled to be held in the Maldives from March 23 to April 4.

Nepal has been drawn in Group A of the tournament alongside Maldives, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka, while Group B will feature India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Following the group stage, the top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals.

Initial squad: Alik Shrestha, Alok Tharu, Anish Thapa Magar, Anish Thing, Anubhav Puri, Anuj Khadka, Arbind Dhami, Asmir Gongba, Bhakta Bahadur Pariyar, Bhupendra Darala, Bigyan Khadka, Bijaya Uruwa, Bikash Tharu, Bikram Gautam, Binayak Tharu, Bishesh Baniya, Buddhi Budha, Darshan Adhikari, Dharbendra Kunwar, Dharma Singh Bam, Dharman Sing Bam, Dilen Limbu, Dip Shrestha, Ekraj BK, Ekraj Budhathoki, Greman Shrestha, Hemanta Bhujel, Himesh Majhi, Ivan Ratna Tuladhar, John Bista, Joshuwa Budhathoki, Karan Tamang, Krish Magar, Krishna Bahadur Ale, Kusan Nembang, Lacchu Thapa, Michael Thapa, Mirak Lingden, Nis Kumar, Nishan Bantawa, Pawan Budhathoki, Pawan Pakhrin, Pawan Pakhrin, Pemba Norbu Bhote, Prabin Rai, Pramit Khatri, Prasant Kumar, Prashant Moktan, Prashanta Limbu, Prasun Tamang, Prasun Waiba, Puran Shrestha, Ram Bahadur Bohara, Ram Thapa, Ranjeet Lama, Ranjit Lama, Rohan Mortan, Rohit Shrestha, Rojan Pradhan, Roman Shrestha, Ronas Burja Magar, Roshan Tamang, Sabin Lungeli Magar, Sabin Ral, Samir Kumar, Samir Thapa, Sandeep Lama, Santosh Gongba, Saran SK, Saroj Darlami, Siddhant Khadka, Subash Bam, Sudeep Lama, Sujal Man Ghale, Sujan Basnet, Sujan Dangol, Sunil Malla, Uday Jung Pandey, Upendra Lawan, Yesraj BK

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.