KATHMANDU: In the second semi-final of the SAFF Women’s Championship, five-time winners India face off against five-time runners-up Nepal.
The match will take place at Dasharath Stadium in Tripureshwar, Kathmandu starting at 6:30 pm.
This encounter marks the second consecutive semi-final meeting between these two teams, who have fought for the title in the previous four editions.
Historically, Nepal has only managed to defeat India once in SAFF competition, achieving this milestone in the last edition, where they secured a 1-0 victory in the semi-final on home soil.
Rashmi Kumari Ghising scored the decisive goal during injury time in the first half.
The Nepalese team is determined to replicate their previous success, while the Indian squad seeks revenge for their prior defeat.
Since the 2022 SAFF Championship, Nepal and India have clashed twice in friendly matches, with India failing to secure a victory in either encounter, both of which ended in draws.
Nepal is buoyed by their morale after their recent victory and the strong support of home fans, aiming to shock India for a second consecutive time and move closer to the title.
Nepal and India are competitors in the SAFF Women’s Championship, with both teams well aware of each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
Since the inaugural edition of the SAFF Championship, they have been vying for the title.
Nepal has reached the finals of every edition except for 2016, but unfortunately, they have consistently finished as runners-up.
In the first edition in 2010, Nepal lost to India 1-0, followed by defeats of 3-1 in 2012 and 6-0 in 2014. In the 2019 final held in Biratnagar, Nepal again fell short, losing 3-1.
In the 2022 semi-final, however, Nepal broke the pattern, defeating India 1-0.
India was eliminated from the semi-finals in that edition, marking a significant shift in their competitive dynamic.
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