Youth Football

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)

The final squad of the national U-23 team for the AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qualifiers has been announced.

Head coach Nabin Neupane confirmed his 23-member squad on Friday.

Nepal have been placed in Group K alongside hosts Tajikistan, Syria, and the Philippines. The team will begin their campaign against Tajikistan on September 3, face Syria on September 6, and play their final match against the Philippines on September 9.

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

(File photo)

The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) has taken a major step to develop youth football and ensure child safeguarding with the launch of its Grassroots Program. The initiative was marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Terre des Hommes (TDH) and Child Nepal.

The ceremony also featured the unveiling of the official Grassroots Football logo.

The MoU was signed by ANFA President Pankaj Bikram Nembang, TDH safeguarding coordinator Kamal Lama, and Child Nepal Executive Director Manoj Dangal.

The program’s launch was attended by ANFA Vice President Dawa Lama, General Secretary Kiran Rai, Executive Committee members Manish Joshi, Bikash Narayan Shrestha, and Prushotam Thapa, along with CEO Indraman Tuladhar.

The Grassroots Program is designed to identify and nurture young talents across the country while ensuring they train and play in a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment.

The national U-23 football squad, currently in a closed camp, has been reduced to 32 players.

Head coach Nabin Neupane has added four senior team's players and released 12 players from the initial pool of 40 shortlisted for the camp, following several rounds of selection conducted by ANFA. 

The team is preparing for the upcoming AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qualifiers, which will be held in Tajikistan from September 3 to 9. Nepal has been placed in Group K alongside hosts Tajikistan, Syria, and the Philippines.

Squad: Abhishek Sengtang, Abhishek Waiba, Aayush Ghalan, Aayush Timsina, Amit Tamata, Anil Bomjan, Anish Chetry, Aron Thapa, Bibek Gurung, Bishal Kc, Bishal Nepali, Dipesh Gurung, Dipesh Rai, Janma Jay Dhami, Jiyarat Sheikh, Krishal Moktan, Kritish Ratna Chunju, Lahan Subba, Nigma Lama, Niraj Karki, Nirajan Dhami, Pemba Lama, Pujan Thapa, Ram Thapa, Rohan Khadgi, Sabin Ghimire, Sanjeev Lama, Sankar Tharu, Santosh Khatri, Semanta Thapa, Sujan Magar, Sumit Shrestha

(File photo)

A total of 40 players have been finalized for the closed camp of the U-23 national team following multiple rounds of selection held at the ANFA Complex in Satdobato.

Head coach Nabin Neupane selected the final squad from an initial pool of 89 players called up for the first phase of trials.

The team will participate in the AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qualifiers, scheduled to take place in Tajikistan from September 3 to 9. Nepal has been drawn in Group K alongside hosts Tajikistan, Syria, and the Philippines.

Initial Squad

Goalkeepers: Krishan Moktan, Jiyarat Sheikh, Rubin Bogati, Amit Tamata, Bishal KC, Bibek Magar

Defenders: Semant Thapa, Ayush Timilsina, Nigma Lama, Sankar Tharu, Ashwin Ghorasainee, Bishal Nepali, Bibek Gurung, Ram Thapa, Anish Pariyar, Sabin Ghimire, Sadip KC, Sesan Dani, Abhishek Waiba, Lahan Subba

Midfielders: Dipeesh Gurung, Abhi Sengtang, Pujan Thapa, Prashant Laksam, Janmajay Dhami, Sanjeev Lama, Saroj Darlami, Pemba Lama, Rojal Dahal

Forwards: Niraj Karki, Sabin Lungeli, Niranjan Dhami, Anil Bhomjan, Aron Thapa, Sujan Magar, Dipesh Chamling Rai, Anish Chhetri, Rohan Khadgi, Sujan Dangol, Mohit Gurung

The selected players are requested to report to the closed camp at the ANFA Complex in Satdobato by 3 PM on Saturday, July 12, 2025.

(File photo)