Nepal Aims to Break Final Jinx in 13th Attempt
Kathmandu — Every time Nepal’s women’s football team reaches the final of an international tournament, a haunting statistic looms large: they have played 12 finals so far and lost every single one. Whether in the SAFF Championship, South Asian Games (SAG), or other international competitions, Nepal consistently performs well in the group stages and semifinals but falters in the final.
Now, Nepal is once again in the final of an international tournament—the International Women’s Championship—taking place on home soil. This marks their 13th final appearance, and they will face Myanmar on Wednesday at the Dasharath Stadium.
Although Nepal has played finals at home before—three times in the SAFF Championship and once in the South Asian Games—they have always ended up as runners-up. This has earned the team the unfortunate label of a “finals loser.” However, they now have another opportunity to shed that tag. To do so, they must overcome Myanmar, a team ranked 48 places higher than them.
At a pre-match press conference on Tuesday, both the captain and head coach of Nepal expressed confidence and readiness for the big game. Head coach Rajendra Tamang noted that the team performed well in all three league stage matches and is making final preparations to address past weaknesses. “We played well in the league stage, and now we’re preparing for the final,” said Tamang. “We aim to fix previous mistakes and put on a strong performance.”
Captain Anjila echoed the coach’s sentiments, emphasizing the team’s confidence and readiness to give their best in the final. “We’ve played well in all the matches so far, and every player is capable. We are ready to fight in the final. As of today, both teams are assured of silver medals. Tomorrow, we will fight for the gold,” she said.
She added, “Only one team will become the champion tomorrow. The team that works the hardest and plays with discipline will win. We are ready, and we’ll give our best.”
The much-anticipated final is set to kick off at 6 PM on Wednesday at the Dasharath Stadium.