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As the New Year 2025 begins, Nepalese football enthusiasts have an exciting reason to celebrate. The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) has announced that Nepal will host the prestigious Four Nations Cup at its home ground.
ANFA’s Big Announcement to Kickstart 2025
On January 1, ANFA made the thrilling announcement through its social media platforms, revealing Nepal as the host for the Four Nations Cup. This follows the resounding success of the SAFF Women’s Championship held in October 2024, where Nepal reached the finals but fell short against Bangladesh.
A Milestone for Women’s Football in Nepal
Women's football in Nepal has been gaining significant attention in recent years. Despite this, ANFA has often skipped FIFA windows for women’s matches, a trend they seem to be reversing with this tournament.
The Four Nations Cup will be a crucial step in preparing Nepal for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers. The tournament is set to take place from February 16 to 27 at Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu.
Participating Nations and Tournament Format
The Four Nations Cup will feature Nepal, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, and Myanmar, with matches played in a round-robin format. Each team will face the others once, and the top two teams will advance to the final. All matches will hold official FIFA status as the tournament falls during the FIFA window.
- FIFA Rankings of Participating Teams:
- Myanmar: 55th
- Nepal: 103rd
- Kyrgyzstan: 128th
- Lebanon: 134th
Key Players and Preparations
Nepal’s national team will begin closed training in the first week of February, following the conclusion of the ANFA Women’s Super League in January. The team will feature notable players such as:
- Sabitra Bhandari (Samba): Playing in France’s top division.
- Angela Subba: Representing Greece in its women’s league.
- Rekha Poudel: Competing for Abu Dhabi Country Club in the UAE.
ANFA is also in the process of appointing a new head coach after Rajendra Tamang stepped down following Nepal’s loss to Bangladesh in the SAFF Championship final.
Challenges and a Second Chance
The Four Nations Cup is Nepal’s opportunity to redeem itself after the cancellation of the Cedars Cup in Lebanon due to the Israel-Palestine conflict. Notably, Lebanon had extended an invitation to Nepal to host the Cedars Cup, which was ultimately not feasible.
Nepal has a mixed history with the participating nations:
- Myanmar: Nepal has faced Myanmar four times, with one draw and three losses.
- Kyrgyzstan: Nepal secured a massive 8-2 victory in the 2019 Najeeda Cup.
- Lebanon: Nepal defeated Lebanon 2-1 in the semifinals of the WAFF Women’s Championship 2023 but lost to Jordan in the finals.
Building Momentum for Women’s Football
This tournament is a significant step in establishing Nepal as a hub for women’s football in South Asia. With home-ground advantage and the support of passionate fans, Nepal aims to not only showcase its footballing skills but also inspire a new generation of female athletes.
As the countdown begins, all eyes will be on Dasharath Stadium to witness a thrilling competition among four nations. Will Nepal seize this opportunity to shine on the international stage? Football fans across the country eagerly await the answer.