WAFF Championship: Nepal loses to Jordan

KATHMANDU: Jordan secured the WAFF Women’s Championship title for the sixth time, triumphing over Nepal in a nail-biting penalty shootout.

The match played last night concluded with Jordan emerging victorious, winning 5-3 in penalties, after the game ended in a 2-2 draw during regular time.

Despite being an invited team and participating for the first time, Nepal showcased commendable performance, securing the runner-up position.

The early lead came from Sabita Rana Magar, who netted a goal in the 29th minute, granting Nepal the initial advantage.

Although leading 1-0 in the first half, Nepal faced a turnaround in the second half, as Jordan’s Lana Ferras leveled the game with a goal in the 74th minute.

The suspense heightened when Sarah Abu Sabah secured the second goal for Jordan in the 89th minute.

In a dramatic turn of events, Nepal secured a penalty in the second minute of injury time.

Gita Rana converted the penalty, leveling the score for Nepal and pushing the game into a penalty shootout.

Nepal’s Geeta Rana, Deepa Shahi, and Hira Bhujel scored in the penalty shootout, demonstrating resilience.

However, Jordan’s goalkeeper thwarted Amrita Jaishi’s penalty shot, sealing Nepal’s fate as the runner-up.

In the semifinals, Nepal triumphed over Lebanon with a 2-1 scoreline, setting the stage for the final clash with Jordan.

Jordan had earlier dominated Palestine with a convincing 5-0 victory in their journey to the finals.

With Nepal ranked 115th and Jordan at 74th in the FIFA rankings, the championship showcased the competitiveness of the WAFF scene and marked an impressive debut for Nepal in the Championship.