Nepal’s women’s football team has once again fallen short in a tournament final, extending its long-standing misfortune in decisive matches. With their latest defeat in the 13th final appearance, Nepal remains without a title, unable to break the final jinx.
Nepal has now suffered six defeats in the SAFF Women’s Championship finals. In addition, the team has lost three times in the South Asian Games (SAG) finals and once each in the Hero Gold Cup, Nadezhda Cup, and WAFF Women’s Championship finals.
Despite playing in a record six SAFF Women’s Championship finals over the past 14 years, Nepal is yet to claim the title. The team has suffered seven final losses against India, two against Bangladesh, and one each against Myanmar, Uzbekistan, and Jordan.
In their most recent final appearance in February 2024, Nepal reached the WAFF Women’s Championship final but lost to Jordan in a penalty shootout (5-3), missing out on yet another title.
Historically, India has been Nepal’s biggest obstacle in both the SAFF Championship and the South Asian Games (SAG). However, Nepal has shown signs of improvement, defeating India twice in the SAFF semifinals in recent years.
Yet, Bangladesh has now emerged as a new challenge for Nepal, securing victories over them in recent tournaments.
Nepal’s Final Defeats Over the Years
The SAFF Women’s Championship, which began in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, in 2010, has seen Nepal fall short in multiple finals. Nepal lost to India four times (2010, 2012, 2014, 2019) and to Bangladesh twice (2022, 2024).
Against India, Nepal suffered a 1-0 defeat in 2010, 3-1 in 2012, 6-0 in 2014, and 3-1 in 2019. Meanwhile, they lost 3-1 to Bangladesh in 2022 and 2-1 in 2024.
Similarly, Nepal has lost three SAG finals to India. In the 11th SAG (2010) held in Bangladesh, Nepal lost 3-1 in the final. In the 12th SAG (2016) in India, they were defeated 4-0, while in the 13th SAG (2019) hosted in Nepal, they lost 2-0.
Additionally, Nepal was beaten by Myanmar in the final of the Hero Women’s Gold Cup in 2019 and by Uzbekistan in the Nadezhda Cup final the same year. Most recently, in February 2024, Nepal lost to Jordan in a penalty shootout in the WAFF Women’s Championship final.
