Nepal Women’s Football Team Yet to Decide Captain Ahead of AFC Qualifier Against Laos

The Nepal women’s national football team is preparing for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers, with their first match against Laos set for tomorrow (Ashar 15) at 6 PM Nepali time. However, with only a day left for the match, the team has not yet announced its captain — raising concerns about leadership and its impact on team morale and strategy.

At the traditional farewell event organized by the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), regular captain Anjila Tumbapo Subba was not present. Instead, head coach Patrick de Wilde, team manager Brinda Dewan, and head of delegation Sarila Shrestha held the national flag. Anjila, who usually leads the team, was neither seen nor mentioned during the event — a notable change from previous international tours.

Anjila has been leading the team since 2019 after regular captain Renuka Nagarkoti suffered an injury. She captained Nepal in tournaments like the SAFF Women’s Championship, WAFF Women’s Championship, international friendlies, and other events. But with the appointment of a foreign coach for the first time, there’s a possibility of a leadership change.

Coach Patrick de Wilde, the first foreign coach for the Nepal women’s team, may choose a new captain to match his vision. There are speculations that Renuka might return to the role if she is fit, adding more interest to the situation.

Other possible candidates include star striker Sabitra Bhandari ‘Samba’ and midfielder Anita Basnet. Sabitra is Nepal’s top scorer with 58 goals and has vast international experience, but she has never captained the national team. Anita, on the other hand, has been a successful captain at the club level, especially with the departmental team APF.

Looking ahead, the coach may also consider giving leadership to young players like Anjana Rana Magar, Preeti Rai, or Puja Rana Magar — all of whom have captained age-group teams and have shown strong performances recently.

Nepal is in Group F of the qualifiers, alongside hosts Uzbekistan, Laos, and Sri Lanka. Only the group winner will advance to the next round. Nepal’s second match is against Sri Lanka on Ashar 18 and the final group match is against Uzbekistan on Ashar 21.

As the team prepares to play without a clear captain, all eyes will be on how this uncertainty affects their performance and unity on the field.