In a historic moment for Nepali women's football, the Armed Police Force (APF) women's football team has departed for Malaysia to participate in the preliminary qualifying round of the inaugural AFC Women's Champions League. This marks the first time a Nepali women's club has been selected to compete in an international tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
Tough Group Stage Ahead
The APF women's team, champions of Nepal's domestic league, left for Kuala Lumpur on Thursday evening, accompanied by a robust squad. They are set to compete in the FC Women's League Preliminary Qualifiers, which will commence on August 25, 2024.
APF is slated to face off against Uzbekistan's PFC Nasaf and Malaysia's Sabah FA in the group stage. PFC Nasaf, the 2024 Uzbekistan Women's League champions, and Sabah FA, the 2024 Malaysia Women's League winners, will present formidable challenges for the Nepali team.
The Path to the Group Stage
The AFC Women's Champions League features top clubs from 22 member countries. The top eight clubs, based on the 2024 FIFA rankings, have directly advanced to the group stage, representing football powerhouses like Australia, the Philippines, Japan, China, and Indonesia. Meanwhile, the remaining 14 nations, including Nepal, must navigate through the preliminary stage to secure their spot in the group stage. These 14 clubs have been divided into four groups, with only the group winners advancing to the next round.
Potential Group A Matchups Await
Should APF advance from the preliminary round, they will join Group A in the main competition, where they will face Chinese club Wuhan Jiangda, Korean club Red Angels, and the winner of Group A from the preliminary selection stage. This group also includes Myanmar's Myade FC, Saudi Arabia's Al Nasser, Thailand's Yong Elephant, and UAE's Abu Dhabi Country Club.
Key Matches and Schedule
The APF women's football team will kick off their campaign on August 25 against PFC Nasaf, followed by a crucial match against Sabah FA on August 28. Both matches will be held at Likas Stadium in Malaysia at 5:45 PM Nepali time. The APF team has promised to update fans about the live broadcast details of the matches soon.
Injured Midfielders Return to Strengthen APF
In a significant boost to the team's chances, midfielders Priti Rai, Renuka Nagarkote, and Saru Limbu, who have been sidelined with injuries for an extended period, will make their much-anticipated comeback in this tournament. Saru Limbu and Renuka Nagarkote were both injured during the women's football tournament at the Asian Games last September, leading to their absence from the women's championship in Saudi Arabia in February. Priti Rai, who sustained an injury in the finals of the same tournament, has been out of action for the past six months.
APF Without Star Forward Sabitra Bhandari
However, the APF team will be without their star forward and prolific goal scorer, Sabitra Bhandari, also known as Samba. The team declined a last-minute loan offer from French league club EA Guingamp for Samba, leaving APF without one of their key players. In her absence, Rashmikumari Ghising from Tribhuvan Army Club has been brought in as a substitute.
Participation in the AFC Women's Champions League offers the APF team an invaluable opportunity to gain experience and exposure against some of Asia's top clubs and players. Despite the challenges ahead, this tournament is expected to be a significant learning experience for the players and a proud moment for Nepali football.
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