Nepal’s determination pays off with spot in SAFF Women’s Championship Final

Nepal’s spot in the final of the SAFF Women’s Championship with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against India on Sunday, October 27, leading to a tense penalty shootout. The match was filled with drama and controversy, particularly after Nepal’s star forward, Rekha Paudel, was shown a second yellow card and sent off in the early minutes of the second half, reducing Nepal to 10 players.

Despite being a player down, Nepal fought valiantly against the Blue Tigresses. In the 62nd minute, India took the lead with a spectacular goal from Sangita Basfore. However, just four minutes later, Nepal equalized when Sabitra Bhandari, affectionately known as Samba, leveled the score in the 66th minute. Her exuberant celebration, which included tossing her shirt and kicking an advertising board, electrified the crowd of over 15,000 fans at the stadium, alongside nearly 500,000 viewers watching live on YouTube.

The match was not without its controversial moments. A first-half penalty claim by Nepal was denied by referee Om Choki after India’s Wangkhem Linthoingambi Devi was adjudged not to have committed a handball in the penalty area. Tempers flared further in the second half after Paudel was sent off, leading to protests from Nepali players and fans alike.

After India’s goal, the match faced another stoppage as Nepal attempted to protest what they believed to be an unfair decision following the quick restart that allowed them to score, which was ruled out by the referee. Security around the stadium was tightened as tensions escalated. However, following discussions among the Nepali players, the match resumed, enabling them to refocus and eventually find the equalizer.

In the penalty shootout, Nepal left no room for error, with all four of their penalty takers—Sabitra Bhandari, Gita Rana, Sabita Rana Magar, and Amisha Karki—converting successfully. In contrast, India struggled, with team captain Ashalata Devi hitting the post and goalkeeper Anjana Rana Magar saving a key penalty from Chanu Sorokhaibam.

With this victory, Nepal faces defending champions Bangladesh in the final, scheduled for Wednesday, October 30. Bangladesh advanced after an impressive 7-1 win over Bhutan earlier in the day. The match promises to be a thrilling encounter as Nepal aims for redemption after losing to Bangladesh in the previous tournament final.