KATHMANDU: Nepal’s national women’s football team is set to play against Uzbekistan today in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers. This crucial match in Tashkent will decide the group winner, with the victorious team securing a spot in the Asian Cup next year in Australia.
The match will take place at 9:15 PM Nepali time.
Both Nepal and Uzbekistan have won their previous two matches in Group F, each earning six points by defeating Laos and Sri Lanka with high-scoring games and keeping clean sheets.
They have also scored the same number of goals without conceding any, making today’s game a thrilling and decisive encounter.
Nepal, led by captain Sabitra Bhandari—who has already scored seven goals in the qualifiers—aims to win this match to qualify for the Asian Cup for the first time through the qualifiers. Nepal last played in the tournament in 1999, while Uzbekistan is also seeking to return after a 22-year absence.
A victory for Nepal will not only secure their place in the Asian Cup but also open doors to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 qualifiers and the 2028 Olympics qualifiers. A loss, however, will end Nepal’s hopes for all three competitions.
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