Football

By a Staff Reporter Kathmandu - Invitees Kuwait and 8-time champions India are set to face off in the title clash of the SAFF Championship 2023. In a thrilling first semifinal, Kuwait edged out 10-men Bangladesh with a narrow 1-0 victory. Meanwhile, hosts India exhibited their dominance by sidelining Lebanon 4-2 in a penalty shootout during the second semifinal at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium. Kuwait's triumph over Bangladesh secured their place in the final, making an impressive statement in their inaugural appearance in the SAFF Championship. The match remained goalless during the regulation time, but Abdullah A M A A Albloushi emerged as the hero, scoring the only goal during injury time in the first half of extra time. His shot passed between the legs of a Bangladeshi d...

By a Staff Reporter Kathmandu - The SAFF Championship 2023 has got its semifinalists following the conclusion of the Group Stage matches on Wednesday at Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru. Invitees Kuwait and hosts India have secured their spots in the semifinals from Group 'A' by accumulating 7 points each from 3 matches. Meanwhile, another invitee, Lebanon, and Bangladesh have earned their places in the semifinals as the winners and runners-up of Group 'B' collecting 9 and 6 points respectively. Lebanon is only the team who won all the group-stage matches. Lebanon claimed a 1-0 victory over the Maldives, and Bangladesh sidelined Bhutan with a convincing 3-1 win on Wednesday, securing their positions in the semifinals. In the semifinals, Group 'A' winners Kuwait wil...

By a Staff Reporter Kathmandu - Invitees Kuwait has advanced to the semifinal of the SAFF Championship 2023 as the Group 'A' winners. In an intense match at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Tuesday, Kuwait played to a 1-1 draw against the host nation, India. India's skipper, Sunil Chhetri, gave his team the lead just before the halftime whistle, but an unfortunate own goal from Anwar Ali in the dying minute nullified Sunil's fifth goal of the ongoing championship. Unmarked 38-old skipper Sunil showcased his brilliance with a stunning volley from Anirudh Thapa's corner in the second minute of injury time in the first half, propelling his side into the lead as they headed into the break. India was heading toward the victory, but the tide turned when Anwar Ali inadvertently...

By a Staff Reporter Kathmandu - Aashish Chaudhary scored his first-ever international goal, leading Nepal to a consolation victory in the SAFF Championship 2023. The final group stage match saw Nepal triumph over Pakistan with a 1-0 scoreline at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru. The game started with a promising opportunity for Nepal as Bimal had a chance to secure an early lead in the 11th minute. However, he was brought down by a Pakistani defender just before he could take a shot in a one-on-one situation. Despite both teams creating numerous chances, the first half ended in a goalless draw. Nepal's Manish had an opportunity to break the deadlock in the 61st minute, but he failed to capitalize on a one-on-one situation. Devendra Tamang came close to giving Nepal...

By a Staff Reporter Kathmandu - Nepal's hopes in the SAFF Championship 2023 were dashed as they suffered an early exit, succumbing to a 2-0 defeat against hosts India at Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Saturday. India's skipper, Sunil Chhetri, and Mahesh Singh Naorem each contributed a goal to secure victory for the hosts. Despite displaying a promising performance in the first half, Nepal fell behind in the second half and conceded both goals. With this win, India secured their place in the semifinals, while Nepal's journey in the SAFF Championship 2023 came to an end. Nepal had earlier suffered a 3-1 loss against invitees Kuwait in the championship opener. Nepal's final match will now be against Pakistan, who has also lost both of their matches so far. Although both teams cre...

By a Staff Reporter Kathmandu - The Nepal National Football Team's SAFF Championship journey got off to a disappointing start as they suffered a defeat against Kuwait. The Nepali side went 3-1 down to Kuwait with Skipper Khaled Hajiah, Shabaib Al Khaldi, and Mohammad Abdullah scoring apiece for the winners. Nepal's star forward, Anjan Bista, replied with a goal, marking his 12th International Goal. With this, he stands just one goal behind Nepal's all-time leading goal scorers, Nirajan Rayamajhi and Hari Khadka. Skipper Khaled Hajiah netted an open header to break the deadlock in the 23rd minute and put his side ahead. Taking advantage of Nepal's failure to clear Fawaz Al Otaibi's corner, Khaled capitalized on the opportunity. Kuwait extended their lead in the 41st minute ...

By a Staff Reporter Kathmandu - The Nepal National Football Team Head Coach Vincenzo Alberto Annese has revealed his starting XI for Nepal's SAFF Championship opener against Kuwait. The Italian coach has chosen to field the same starting lineup that featured in the friendly match against the Philippines last week. Leading the team as the captain, Kiran Chemjong will be guarding Nepal's goalpost, showcasing his skills between the sticks. Sanish Shrestha and Bimal Pandey have been assigned as the fullbacks, responsible for both defensive duties and contributing to the team's attacking play. The central defensive partnership will be formed by Ananta Tamang and Rohit Chand, combining their experience and defensive prowess to provide stability at the back. Their coordination and c...

By a Staff Reporter Kathmandu - The 14th edition of the SAFF Championship is set to commence in Bangalore, India, with Nepal squaring off against formidable opponents, Kuwait. The much-anticipated match is scheduled to kick off at 3:45 PM NST at the iconic Sree Kanteerava Stadium. The SAFF Championship 2023 brings together a total of eight teams, including six SAFF nations and two invited guests, vying for the honor of clinching the title in the largest football tournament in South Asia. India, the host nation, boasts an impressive record, having secured the championship title on eight occasions, making them the most successful team in the tournament's history. As the current title contenders, India enters the competition with high hopes of adding yet another triumph to their...