Youth Football

The ANFA U-16 Youth League 2024 officially commenced on Friday at the ANFA Complex in Satdobato. Bagmati Province Minister for Youth and Sports, Minkrishna Maharjan, inaugurated the tournament by ceremonially handing over the match ball to the match officials.

The opening ceremony witnessed the presence of key dignitaries, including ANFA President Pankaj Bikram Nembang, Vice President Dawa Lama, Ex-Co member and tournament coordinator Bikash Narayan Shrestha, Deputy General Secretary Arun Man Joshi, Treasurer Rabindra Joshi, CEO Indraman Tuladhar, Spokesperson Suresh Shah, and others.

The league features 11 teams—FC Khumaltar, Church Boys United, Himalayan Sherpa Club, Satdobato Youth Club, Tribhuvan Army FC, Three Star Club, APF FC, Nepal Police Club, Friends Club, Machhindra Club, and Sankata FC—competing in a double round-robin format.

In the opening match of the ANFA U-16 Youth League 2024, Church Boys United staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Sankata FC 2-1. Pemba Tamang gave Sankata FC an early lead in the 15th minute, but Church Boys United responded strongly with goals from Sanil Magar in the 30th minute and Sugam Rana in the 84th minute to secure a winning start to their campaign.

In the second match of the day, Machhindra Football Club delivered an emphatic performance, overpowering Himalayan Sherpa Club with a 5-0 victory. Rahul Kumar Yonjan led the charge with a brace, while Manish Nepali, Saugat Kumar Bomjan, and Milan Bohara each added a goal to complete the dominant display.

All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) has bid farewell to the national U-17 football team as they depart for Qatar to participate in the 2025 AFC U-17 Asian Cup Qualifiers, scheduled from October 23 to 27. Nepal has been placed in Group F alongside Japan, Qatar, and Mongolia.

The team will face Japan in their opening match on October 23, followed by a game against the host nation, Qatar, on October 25. Nepal's final group stage match will be against Mongolia on October 27.

During the farewell ceremony, Dipak Lama, Chief Guest and Member Secretary of Bagmati Province Sports Development Council, ANFA President Pankaj Bikram Nembang, General Secretary Kiran Rai, Executive Committee member Manish Joshi, and Mani Raj Bista presented the team with the national flag and adorned them with flower garlands.

In addition, ANFA felicitated Sajan Dangol in recognition of his Guinness World Record for the most football touches with alternating feet in one hour. Dangol set the record with an impressive 9,218 touches. ANFA also announced a cash prize of Rs 50,000 for Dangol during the event.

Nepal squad: Pemba Nurbu Bhote, Ram Bahadur Bohara, Bishesh Bania, Prashant Moktan, Sujal Man Ghale, Nishan Rajlawot, Bhuban Kami, Ekraj Bishwakarma, Jhon Bista, Sabinaya Katuwal, Anubhab Puri, Laxman Thami, Bigyan Khadka, Subash Bam (C), Alik Shrestha, Sabin Kumar Lungeli Magar, Rohit Shrestha, Santosh Gongba, Ranjeet Lama, Tenzing Sherpa, Digbijaya Shahi

Officials: Mani Raj Bista (Head of Delegation), Sanoj Shrestha (Head Coach), Bijendra Pudasaini (Team Manager), Dhaneshwor Prajapati (Assistant Coach), Prabin Khachhe Shrestha (GK Coach), Raju Dangol (Team Doctor), Nishant Joshi (Physiotherapist), Dhan Kumar Lama Tamang (Official), Kalyan Kumar Khadka (Official), Ram Chandra Tamang Lama (Official), Nilam Maharjan (Media)

Six players from the academy run by ANFA in Shree Batsala Devi Higher Secondary Engineering School in Sisneri, Makwanpur, died after being caught up in a landslide on Saturday.

Bodies of the six players were found buried in the landslide after a joint-effort by locals and security agencies.

The players were being moved to a safer location after heavy rainfall when they were caught up by the landslide.

The players have been identified as Diwas Baniya, Priyans Acharya, Anupam Ghalan, Saiman Yonjan, Bikal Regmi and Aditya Balampakhi.

Their bodies have been flown to Kathmandu and kept at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Maharajgunj.

The remaining 30 players from the academy have also been flown in Nepal Army helicopters and brought to ANFA Complex in Satdoabto where they will be handed to their families.

Nepal lost 4-0 to Bahrain in their final match of the AFC U20 Asian Cup 2025 Qualifiers in Chinese Taipei on Friday.

Sami Bassam Awdi scored twice and Ali Ahmed Hasan and Khaled Alkhalaf scored for Bahrain in the win.

Nepal registered one victory but lost three matches in the competition.

Nepal had lost their opening match against Cambodia before defeating Chinese Taipei. Nepal then lost its both matches against Uzbekistan and Bahrain.

Nepal was defeated by India 4-2 in the semi-finals of the SAFF U17 Championship 2024 in Bhutan on Saturday.

After a goalless first half, Vishal Yadav scored twice to give India a two-goal lead. Subash Bam pulled one back for Nepal in the 81st minute, but India restored their advantage through Rishi Singh just four minutes later.

An own goal by Mohammed Kaif a minute before full time brought Nepal within one goal, but Hemneichung Lunkim's late goal in added time ultimately sealed Nepal's exit from the tournament.

Nepal suffered a heavy 6-0 defeat to Uzbekistan in their third match of the AFC U20 Asian Cup 2025 Qualifiers on Wednesday.

Saidnurullayev Saidumarkhon scored twice, while Nurlan Ibraimov, Lazizbek Mirzaev, Meyirbek Rejabaliev, and Haydarov Abdugafur each added one goal for Uzbekistan.

Nepal had previously lost to Cambodia in their opening match but bounced back with a victory over Chinese Taipei in their second game. They will face Bahrain on Friday.