ANFA trims Women’s SAFF Championship squad

Lalitpur, November 22

All Nepal Football Association today short-listed 42 players for the fourth SAFF Women’s Championship to be held in India from December 26 to January 4.

Head coach Kumar Thapa along with Technical Director Chiaki Takeda, coaches Sunil Shrestha, Mrigendra Mishra and Ashmita Khawas selected the players from the 72-member squad who were in the training camp for the last two weeks. The current squad comprises of five goalkeepers, 15 defenders, 14 midfielders and eight forwards.

Anjila Thumba Subba, Namita Kumari Dali, Laxmi Nepal, Rupa Rana Magar, and Anjana Rana Magar are the goalkeepers. Similarly, Ghim Kumar Gurung,

Amrita Jaisi, Anjali Waiba, Mana Maya Limbu, Hira Kumari Bhujel, Poonam Jarga Magar, Gita Rana, Bimala BK, Nanda Kumari Thapa, Kabita Dhimal, Shanta Rai, Bhoj Kumari Thapa, Anju Lopchan, Nisha Thokar and Usha Bhandari are the defenders in the team.

Sapana Lama, Dipa Rai, Laxmi Paudel, Anita Basnet, Deepa Adhikari, Srijana Khadka, Renuka Nagarkoti, Anita KC, Reena Guvaju, Yasodha Lama, Bhujunga Rai, Indira Rai, Rupa Magar and Anjali Yonzon are the midfielders who made the cut. Likewise, Sabitra Bhandari, Krishna Khatri, Sharmila Thapa, Niru Thapa, Rashmi Kumari Ghising, Nirmala BK, Manju Gurung and Saru Limbu are the forwards.

Three-time runners-up Nepal are in Group A along with Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Bhutan. Hosts India are pitted in Group B along with Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Pakistan are not participating in the competition. Nepal will open the campaign with a match against Bhutan on December 26 and face the Maldives two days later. They will meet Sri Lanka on December 30. All the matches will be played at the Kanchenjunga Stadium in Siliguri.

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