KATHMANDU: Nepali football teams have not been able to perform well in the AFC Asia Cup.

Machhindra Football Club, the defending champion of the Martyr’s Memorial ‘A’ Division, faced a defeat in the first match.

It went out of the Asia Cup journey after it lost to the Blue Star of Sri Lanka 2-1 in the tournament played on the home ground.

Manang Marshyangdi Club, fortunately, had got a chance to play the group stage match in 2019 based on seniority after becoming top three teams.

However, it could not win even a single match, then. Similarly, Nepal Army got a chance to play a group stage match in 2021 but did not make it to the further journey.

From 2015 to 2018, Nepali teams failed to participate in the Asia Cup due to various reasons.
AFC organized AFC President’s Cup from 2005 to 2014 involving Nepal, Bhutan, and Chinese Taipei as emerging nations.

In the third edition held in Pakistan in 2007, Police made a sensational final trip. Police, who reached the semi-finals as the 1st runner-up from Group B, defeated Regar-Tadaj of Tajikistan 2-1 to reach the final.

However, in the final, Police was limited to runner-up after losing to Kyrgyzstan’s Dordai Dynamo 2-1.