Four Nation Women’s Football Tournament Nepal 2025 Review & Nepal's head to head Myanmar, Lebanon, and Kyrgyzstan

After narrowly missing out on the SAFF Women's Championship 2024 title at home, the Nepal women's football team is set to return to the field in pursuit of another trophy. The upcoming Four Nations Women's Football Championship will take place in Kathmandu in the third week of February 2025. Nepal will face three competitive teams—Myanmar, Lebanon, and Kyrgyzstan—in this international tournament.

The Nepali team will kick off their training camp on February 2, 2025 (Magh 19, 2081) to prepare for the competition, which is being held during FIFA's international match window. Let's take a closer look at Nepal's opponents and their past performances against the national team.

Lebanon (FIFA Ranking: 134)

Lebanon is the lowest-ranked team in this tournament. Nepal has played against Lebanon only once before, during the WAFF Women's Championship 2024 semifinals in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. In that match, Nepal secured a dramatic 2-1 victory after extra time. Sabitra Bhandari scored the equalizer after Nepal trailed by one goal, and Preeti Rai netted the winning goal.

Lebanon is primarily active in West Asian tournaments and is making its first-ever trip to South Asia for this event. Accustomed to playing in high temperatures above 40°C, Lebanon may find it difficult to adapt to Nepal's cold climate.

Lebanon's Major Achievements:

• WAFF Women's Championship 2022: Runner-up
• WAFF Women's Championship 2007 & 2019: Third place

Nepal will face Lebanon on February 23, 2025, in their second match of the Four Nations Cup. With home support, Nepal will look to extend their winning record against this Middle Eastern side.

Kyrgyzstan (FIFA Ranking: 128)

Nepal will meet Kyrgyzstan on February 17, 2025, marking their first encounter in six years. Their last meeting was in the 2019 Nadezhda Cup, where Nepal thrashed the hosts 8-2. In that game, Sabitra Bhandari (Samba) scored four goals, completing her hat-trick within 26 minutes. Anita Basnet added two goals, while Deepa Rai and captain Niru Thapa contributed one each.

In the 2022 CAFA Women's Championship, Kyrgyzstan finished third, which remains their best achievement to date. The Nepali team, having dominated their last encounter, will aim to replicate that success and start their campaign with a convincing win.

Myanmar (FIFA Ranking: 55) – Nepal’s Strongest Opponent

Myanmar is the highest-ranked team in this tournament and the strongest contender for the title. The Southeast Asian side has a rich history in women's football, having played in the AFC Women's Asian Cup five times, most recently in 2022.

Nepal vs Myanmar Head-to-Head:

• 2019 Hero Cup (India, Group Stage): Nepal lost 3-0
• 2019 Hero Cup Final (India): Nepal lost 3-1
• 2018 AFC Olympic Qualifiers Round 1: Nepal held Myanmar to a 1-1 draw
• 2018 AFC Olympic Qualifiers Round 2: Nepal lost 3-1

Despite struggling against Myanmar in past encounters, Nepal now has an opportunity for redemption. Playing at home in front of passionate supporters, the Nepali women's team will look to overturn history and secure a crucial victory on February 23, 2025, in a match that could determine their place in the final.

Conclusion

The Four Nations Cup 2025 presents a golden opportunity for the Nepal women's football team to test their strength against tough international opponents. The home advantage and strong fan support could play a crucial role in Nepal's performance. With memories of their SAFF Women's Championship final heartbreak still fresh, the team will be eager to make amends and claim a much-needed international trophy.

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