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Football

ANFA National League: Laligurans Beat Jawalakhel, Satdobato and Sankata Tie

Raj Bhusal scored early to give Laligurans Association Club a 1-0 win over Jawalakhel Youth Club on the second day of the ANFA National League. Laligurans earned three points in the late match at the ANFA Complex in Satdobato. Earlier, Satdobato Youth Club and Sankata FC played to a draw. **Bhusal Scores Early** Laligurans took the lead early in the second match, with Raj Bhusal scoring in the second minute against Jawalakhel. Jawalakhel tried to equalize, but Laligurans held on to their lead. The 1-0 win gives them a strong start to the season. ![](https://bootballer.com/storage/media/posts/hjylHqGEFQ5QUGz3Btk1yaaeMMC6TAwI0JvM4oSy.jpg) **StarSatdobato’s Key Players Can’t Break Through**. Earlier in the day, the spotlight was on Satdobato Youth Club, featuring several prominent domestic players, who were unable to overcome a resilient Sankata FC. deadlock at the ANFA Headquarters ground, but lacked the clinical edge in the final third. The match ended in a goalless draw, with both sides forced to share the spoils after failing to convert their chances. **Next Up: Evening Matches** The league moves to Dasharath Stadium on Tuesday for a much-anticipated match. The evening will also include the league’s official opening ceremony before kickoff, creating a festive atmosphere at the Tripureshwar venue.

Football

Friends Club Stage Comeback as Champions Church Boys Stumble in National League Opener

The ANFA National League began on Wednesday at the ANFA Complex in Satdobato, bringing determination and unexpected results. Friends Club came from behind to win 3-1 against Kankre Bihar Club, while defending champions Church Boys United settled for a draw. **Friends Club Rally for Opening Win** In the tournament's opening match, Friends Club, a team with domestic experience, overcame a rough start to earn all three points against Surkhet’s Kankre Bihar Club. The match started poorly for the Kupandole-based team. Six minutes in, Kankre Bihar took a surprising lead after an own goal by Friends' defender Khemraj Shrestha. Although Friends controlled most of the first half, they struggled to break down a strong defense. However, the momentum shifted in stoppage time at the end of the first half. Central midfielder Prashant Laksam scored to tie the game, giving Friends Club a boost before halftime. He put his side ahead in the 59th minute, turning the game around. As Kankre Bihar pushed for an equalizer, Friends capitalized in the final moments, with forward Ashish Chapagai scoring in the last minute of regulation to seal a 3-1 victory. ![](https://bootballer.com/storage/media/posts/G1vKokwyuTXSTrzo5hN61GkYirjBp3xvAYhu1QoQ.jpg) **Church Boys Held to a Draw** In the second match, 'A' Division champions Church Boys United settled for a 1-1 draw with Shree Bhagawati Club. Shree Bhagawati made things difficult and took a surprise lead just before halftime with a goal from Harihar Budhamagar. This gave the underdogs a boost going into the break. Church Boys ramped up the pressure in the second half. Their efforts paid off in the 65th minute when captain Arik Bista scored the equalizer. Despite late attempts to find a winner, the champions settled for a single point to start their campaign. **Upcoming Fixtures** The matches continue at the ANFA Complex in Satdobato on Thursday, with two games scheduled: **11:00 AM: Satdobato Youth Club vs. Sankata FC** **3:00 PM: Laligurans Association vs. Jawalakhel Youth Club**

Football

Heartbreak at Dasharath: East Bengal Stuns APF to Clinch Inaugural SAFF Women’s Club Championship

KATHMANDU - Once again, Dasharath Stadium proved unlucky for Nepal, as the dream of winning an international title at home slipped away. In the final of the first SAFF Women’s Club Championship, Nepal’s APF Football Club lost 3–0 to India’s East Bengal FC, leaving 8,000 home fans in shock. The crowd in Tripureshwor was buzzing before the match, but defensive mistakes decided the outcome. APF fought hard, but three key errors led directly to all three goals for the Indian team. Mistakes at the back hurt the home team. East Bengal’s top striker, Fazila Ikwaput, scored twice and won the Golden Boot. The first goal, in the 21st minute, came after a defensive error. ![](https://bootballer.com/storage/media/posts/RQtR8geGmcFu3CWOBbIMZb1knLiV1BbmGhiO4jNt.jpg) APF left-back Manmaya tried to clear a pass from East Bengal’s Sarita Yumnam with a header but missed. Fazila quickly took advantage, and her shot deflected off APF center-back Gita Rana, leaving the goalkeeper wrong-footed as the ball went in. In the 35th minute, things got even worse for APF. Manmaya again had trouble clearing a corner, and Indian defender Ashalata Devi took the ball from her, drove into the box, and crossed it. Midfielder Silky Devi Hemam jumped highest and headed the ball past APF goalkeeper Anjana Rana Magar, making it 2–0. A Nightmare Start to the Second Half. Any hopes of an APF comeback? The second half started badly for APF. Just 16 seconds after the break, any hope of a comeback disappeared. Goalkeeper Anjana Rana Magar let a weak shot from Fazila slip between her legs and into the net. That soft goal ended the contest, and East Bengal controlled the rest of the match. They swept the individual honors as well. ![](https://bootballer.com/storage/media/posts/sjOHIFDNqgG6q4Qw6ukqgVnBSxhO3iDcyHUW9XpM.jpg) **Champions: East Bengal FC (Received $10,000 USD)** **Runner-up: APF Football Club (Received $5,000 USD)** Striker Fazila Ikwaput was the undisputed star of the tournament. With nine goals in just five matches, Striker Fazila Ikwaput stood out as the tournament’s top player. She scored nine goals in 5 games, earning both the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Top Scorer awards, along with an additional $1,000 USD and her trophies. Additionally, East Bengal’s Elangbam Panthoi Chanu was judged the Best Goalkeeper, completing a total dominance by the visitors. Transport United FC took home the Fair Play Award. For APF and their fans, it was a tough loss. They reached another final but missed out on the trophy again, learning another hard lesson on the big stage.

Cricket

SQUAD ANNOUNCED: Nepal Locks in 15 Names for T20 World Cup Glory

SQUAD ANNOUNCED: Nepal Locks in 15 Names for T20 World Cup Glory

KATHMANDU, Jan 6, 2026 – The wait is over. The Rhinos are ready to charge on the global stage once again. In a highly anticipated announcement this evening, the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) unveiled the official 15-man squad that will represent the nation at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Led by the talismanic Rohit Paudel, the squad features a blend of battle-hardened veterans and explosive young talent. This signals Nepal’s intent to compete fiercely against the heavyweights in Group C. The Squad: A Mix of Stability and Firepower The selection committee has kept faith in the core that defined Nepali cricket’s recent rise, while adding profiles suited for the sub-continental conditions in Mumbai, where Nepal will play its group stage matches. Rohit Paudel retains the captaincy, providing stability to the batting order. He will be supported by his deputy, the "Tiger" Dipendra Singh Airee, whose all-round prowess remains the heartbeat of this team. The most reassuring sight for fans is Sandeep Lamichhane. The leg-spin wizard, instrumental in Nepal’s global recognition, leads a spin attack that looks lethal for Indian pitches. He is joined by the disciplined left-arm orthodox of Lalit Rajbanshi and the promising Sher Malla, whose inclusion addresses the need for aggressive wicket-taking options in the middle overs. ![](https://bootballer.com/storage/media/posts/eATLf2BWThTgH3wwk7lAcr6Q1t4i7y3gM0RaDzfp.jpg) **Analysis: Pace, Power, and the X-Factors** The pace department sees the reunited "Som-Karan" duo, Sompal Kami and Karan KC, bringing years of experience and lower-order hitting. The inclusion of Nandan Yadav adds a fresh dimension to the seam attack, offering a skiddy option that could be vital under the lights at the Wankhede. the batting unit’s intent. The recall of Lokesh Bam suggests a clear strategy: Nepal wants to maximize the powerplay and death overs with pure six-hitting ability. Alongside the dynamic opening pair of Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh, and the finishing duties of Sundeep Jora and Gulshan Jha, this lineup is built to chase targets, not just set them. **The Road Ahead** The stakes have never been higher. Inl faces a gauntlet of fixtures in Mumbai: * Feb 8: vs England (The Opener) * Feb 12: vs Italy * Feb 15: vs West Indies * Feb 17: vs Bangladesh Opening the campaign against defending champions England at the Wankhede Stadium. This is a fire. This is the kind of stage to reveal CAN's confidence in the squad's preparation. As the team prepares to depart for India, the message from the jersey, emblazoned with the majestic Rhino and the jagged peaks of the Himalayas, is clear: Nepal is coming to play.

History on Home Soil: Nepal Unveils Squad for ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier

History on Home Soil: Nepal Unveils Squad for ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier

Hosts Nepal have named their 15-member squad for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Global Qualifiers after qualifying the tournament for the first time in their history. The tournament will also mark the first time Nepal host a women’s ICC event. Squad Indu Barma (c), Puja Mahato, Rubina Chhetri, Sita Rana Magar, Bindu Rawal, Samjhana Khadka, Kajal Shrestha, Kabita Joshi, Kabita Kunwar, Rachana Chaudhary, Riya Sharma, Roma Thapa, Suman Bista, Rajmati Airee, Manisha Upadhaya Nepal have appeared at the Asia Cup three times in the T20I format but will now look to make it to the T20 World Cup for the first time as they host the Global qualifiers that are scheduled to be held from January 14 to February 1. ![](https://bootballer.com/storage/media/posts/pxyN1cVU9Hn3g7nsOpQBW9VBsmc50lrSVFz5KBPj.jpg) A total of ten teams will vie for four spots in the T20 World Cup later this year, with the teams being split into two groups of five. The top three teams in each group will advance to the Super 6s. The six teams will then face each other in a round-robin format and the top four teams will confirm a place in the World Cup that is scheduled to be held in England and Wales in June. **Group A: Bangladesh, Ireland, Namibia, Papua New Guinea, United States** **Group B: Nepal, Netherlands, Scotland, Thailand, Zimbabwe**

Paudel Inks Deal with SPG Automobiles; Collects NPL MVP Wheels in Kathmandu Ceremony

Paudel Inks Deal with SPG Automobiles; Collects NPL MVP Wheels in Kathmandu Ceremony

Nepal’s national cricket captain, Rohit Paudel, is now the brand ambassador for SPG Automobiles Pvt. Ltd. The three-year partnership was announced at a ceremony in Kathmandu on Friday, which also celebrated Paudel’s standout performance in the Nepal Premier League (NPL) 2025. After leading the Lumbini Lions to victory and being named ‘Electrifying Player of the Tournament,’ Paudel received the keys to a JAECOO 15 Electric SUV. SPG Automobiles also covered the windfall tax on the prize, so Paudel gets the full benefit of his reward. ![](https://bootballer.com/storage/media/posts/2WHWNxXhkyru8ACPdySRsxPgHKHHa5Z4VuUagaKF.jpg) The event mixed business and celebration as SPG Director Gaurav Sharda and Captain Paudel signed the Memorandum of Understanding to confirm the partnership. Managing Director Sandeep Sharda handed over the SUV keys, which has a 155 kW motor and a 461-kilometre range. Paudel thanked the company by signing a cricket bat for the executives. "I am incredibly excited to be appointed as the Brand Ambassador," Paudel said, and shared that he looks forward to driving the SUV, which is well-suited for Nepali roads. The ceremony also recognized all-rounder Dipendra Singh Airee, another SPG brand ambassador. Director Gaurav Sharda said the leadership and consistency shown by both players match the Omoda and JAECOO brands.

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