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Wounded Bangladesh stand in Nepal women’s way to SAFF final

From Kathmandu Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Nepal's women's football team faces Bangladesh in the SAFF Championship semifinals, aiming to overcome past final losses.
  • Key striker Sabitra Bhandari is absent, and rivals India and Bangladesh have shown significant recent development.
  • Nepal hopes to leverage the return of midfielder Preeti Rai and potential penalty shootout practice for a strong performance.

Nepal's women's football team is set to face their long-standing rivals, Bangladesh, in the SAFF Championship semifinals. This match carries significant weight, especially after Bangladesh denied Nepal their first SAFF title in the 2022 final, a painful loss that occurred on home soil. Nepal had previously held an undefeated streak against Bangladesh until 2021, but recent defeats in finals have shifted the dynamic.

Bangladesh have been Nepal’s arch-rival in women’s football for long.

— NarratorThis quote establishes the historical and intense rivalry between the two national women's football teams.

This year's tournament sees Nepal entering without the usual 'title favorites' tag. The absence of key striker Sabitra Bhandari, known as Samba, and the considerable growth of rivals India and Bangladesh, who both qualified for the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup while Nepal missed out, contribute to this change. Nepal's struggles in group stage matches against Bhutan and Sri, which they won by narrow margins, suggest a challenging path ahead against a strong Bangladeshi side.

Despite the hurdles, there are positive signs for Nepal. Head coach Nabin Neupane has yet to field his strongest lineup, utilizing different players in the group stages. The return of midfielder Preeti Rai, who missed group fixtures due to club commitments in Cambodia, is a significant boost. Rai's presence is expected to add motivation and enhance Nepal's midfield capabilities, potentially enabling them to penetrate Bangladesh's defense.

Nepal are facing Bangladesh in the semifinal of the 2026 SAFF Women’s Championship on Wednesday.

— NarratorThis provides the immediate context for the upcoming crucial match between the two nations.

Coach Neupane has also been observed practicing penalty shootouts during training, indicating the team's readiness for a potential tie-breaker. However, the team faced a minor setback as penalty-specialist goalkeeper Anjana Rana Magar and defender Hira Kumari Bhujel were absent from training due to illness. The upcoming semifinal match against Bangladesh is crucial for Nepal as they seek to overcome recent final disappointments and reassert their dominance in the region.

With Rai supporting Renuka Nagarkote in the midfield, Nepal are expected to penetrate the Bangladeshi defence.

— NarratorThis highlights the strategic importance of Preeti Rai's return to the team's midfield and offensive potential.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Kathmandu Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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