Nepal Announces Final Squad for AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers

The final squad of the Nepali national women’s football team for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers has been announced.

Head coach Patrick De Wilde announced the final team on Friday.

There has been one change from the squad that recently played a friendly match against Thailand. Pratiksha Chaudhary has replaced Sushma Tamang. Pratiksha, who plays domestic football for APF Club, has been included in the senior national team for the first time.

Nepal is placed in Group F for the qualifiers, along with Uzbekistan (hosts), Lao, and Sri Lanka.

Nepal’s match schedule:

• June 29: vs Lao
• July 2: vs Sri Lanka
• July 5: vs Uzbekistan

Only the group winner will qualify for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 in Australia.

Nepal has previously participated in the Women’s Asian Cup three times—in 1986, 1989, and 1999. After a gap of 26 years, Nepal is aiming to qualify again. In the last edition, Nepal played the 2022 qualifiers in India but failed to reach the final tournament.

Nepal Women’s National Team Squad:

Goalkeepers:

• Anjila Tumbapo Subba
• Anjana Rana Magar
• Usha Nath

Defenders:

• Geeta Rana
• Nisha Thokar
• Samiksha Ghimire
• Manmaya Damai
• Pratiksha Chaudhary
• Bimala BK
• Pooja Rana
• Amrita Jaishi

Midfielders:

• Bimala Chaudhary
• Anita Basnet
• Renuka Nagarkoti
• Preeti Rai
• Saru Limbu
• Sabita Rana Magar
• Saraswati Hamal

Forwards:

• Sabitra Bhandari
• Rashmi Kumari Ghising
• Chandra Bhandari
• Anita KC
• Rekha Paudel