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Football

Nepal Super League Season 4 Set for September 5 Kickoff

KATHMANDU — Nepal’s premier franchise football tournament, the Nepal Super League (NSL), will launch its ambitious fourth season on September 5 (Bhadau 20) with a major overhaul aimed at elevating the domestic game to international standards. Organisers Nepal Sports and Event Management officially shared the plan for the next season. This change excited devoted fans by moving away from the usual single-location model. For the first time, the fourth season will have a full home-and-away setup. This means fans across the country can now enjoy matches in their local stadiums. Local stadiums will become strongholds, sparking genuine local rivalries. ![](https://bootballer.com/storage/media/posts/9suNtmFPzVv9TVyyIa1o5wkrtyfXXNPepCGKpc0z.jpg) To match its new geographic footprint, the league is expanding as well. The tournament, which previously capped its roster at 7 franchises, will now welcome 10-12 teams for the upcoming campaign. This expansion promises a denser, more gruelling fixture list. It also creates a vital pipeline for homegrown talent to showcase their skills on Nepal's grandest footballing stage. The announcement sets the stage for a renewed wave of regional animosities. All eyes will be on powerhouse Lalitpur City FC, which cemented its dynasty on April 23, 2025 (Baisakh 10, 2082) at the iconic Dasharath Stadium. In a tense, tactical masterclass of a final, Lalitpur edged past a resilient Pokhara Thunders with a 2-1 victory. They captured back-to-back NSL crowns. While Lalitpur aims to extend its stranglehold on the silverware, inaugural champions Kathmandu Rayzrs will be equally desperate to reclaim their lost throne. This rivalry anchors what promises to be a thrilling, multi-sided title race when the first whistle blows this September.

Football

Riyadh Ruin: Gamba Osaka Stuns Al-Nassr to Claim ACL Two Crown

Riyadh’s atmosphere, often linked to wealth and an expectation of victory, was marked by disappointment Saturday night. Cristiano Ronaldo stood frustrated on the King Saud University Stadium pitch, a familiar scene since his 2023 Saudi Arabia debut. Expectations for immediate success were dashed as Gamba Osaka, the underdogs, decisively won the Asian Champions League Two final. Ronaldo has yet to secure his first major trophy in Saudi Arabia. But the real story wasn’t just Al-Nassr’s failure. It was the absolute brick wall they ran into. **The Boy Who Defied Kings** Al-Nassr pressed forward from the kickoff, expecting a coronation. Sadio Mane led the attack and narrowly missed a chance to score. Abdulrahman Ghareeb then fired a shot toward the bottom left corner, but Gamba Osaka’s young goalkeeper, Araki, reacted quickly and deflected the ball around the post, showing impressive composure. Right after Araki’s save, Gamba Osaka counterattacked, moving the ball quickly upfield. Immediately following Araki's deflection, Gamba Osaka’s defenders regained possession and initiated a decisive counterattack, quickly moving the ball upfield through coordinated passes. Hummet, who finished accurately from 16 yards out to give the J-League team a lead they fiercely defended. It was Gamba Osaka's second continental title, arriving 18 years after their first. History, it seems, loves a patient suitor. ![](https://bootballer.com/storage/media/posts/SOAq8sBTmP4wXOmMQLxGjzzCwIOkKnm6r7UdfvU6.jpg) In the 77th minute, Joao Felix of Al-Nassr struck powerfully from distance. Goalkeeper Araki could not reach it, but the shot hit the post, denying Al-Nassr a goal. The most intense drama unfolded late. Six minutes before the end of regulation, Cristiano Ronaldo received the ball near the penalty area, used a deft backheel to pass precisely to teammate Joao Felix. Felix collected Ronaldo’s pass with one touch and quickly fired a well-executed shot at goal, drawing a strong reaction from the spectators for his effort.Gamba defender Takeru Kishimoto made a crucial lunging block inside the penalty area, intervening at the last moment to stop a shot that was likely headed for goal—a moment Osaka supporters will remember. Al-Nassr still leads the Saudi Pro League by two points with one match left and could win the domestic title, but on the continental stage, Gamba Osaka showed control of the tournament through determined defending and clinical counterattacks. They came to Riyadh as guests and left with the crown.

Football

ANFA Announces Final Squad for SAFF Women’s Championship 2026

KATHMANDU – The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) has unveiled Nepal’s final 22-player squad for the SAFF Women’s Championship 2026. The 8th edition of this electrifying regional showdown will light up Goa, India, from May 25 to June 5, 2026, with every match set to roar at the iconic Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Anjila Retains Captaincy; Nabin Neupane at the Helm Star goalkeeper Anjila Tumbapo Subba proudly commands the Gorkhali Chelis as their captain yet again. With the fresh leadership of Head Coach Nabin Neupane, Nepal charges into the quest for a long-awaited historic first SAFF title, hungry to shake off its status as a six-time runner-up. **The Final Squad Breakdown** **Goalkeepers**: Anjila Tumbapo Subba ©, Anjana Rana Magar, Usha Nath **Defenders**: Puja Rana, Gita Rana, Bimala BK, Hira Kumari Bhujel, Pratishya Chaudhary, Samikshaya Ghimire, Nisha Thokar, Sabina Chaudhary **Midfielders**: Renuka Nagarkoti, Dipa Shahi, Preeti Rai, Saru Limbu, Birshana Chaudhary, Anita Basnet, Anita Lamjel, Anita KC **Forwards**: Rashmi Ghishing, Rekha Poudel, Purnima Rai, Mina Deuba ![](https://bootballer.com/storage/media/posts/qXrydNAcgsTchlAO6EQcDMmDfqQqSCk5aVzxK58f.jpg) **Tournament Outlook** Nepal has been placed in Group A alongside Sri Lanka and Bhutan. Group B features the hosts India, defending champions Bangladesh, and the Maldives. With a balanced mix of veteran leadership in midfield and dynamic young talent upfront, Coach Neupane’s squad enters the tournament as strong favourites to advance past the group stage and make a deep push for the trophy. Nepal will kick off their campaign on the opening days of the tournament in Goa.

Cricket

CAN Approves $500K for Women’s Cricket and Reveals NPR 473M Revenue from NPL Season 2

CAN Approves $500K for Women’s Cricket and Reveals NPR 473M Revenue from NPL Season 2

The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) Central Working Committee met on April 6, 2026. The committee approved a $500,000 USD (approximately NPR 66 million) investment in women's cricket, aligning with ICC gender-balance directives. It also decided to seek a lease extension for the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in Kirtipur and to pursue a formal transfer of the Lower Mulpani Cricket Ground from the National Sports Council. These actions aim to strengthen cricket infrastructure and improve financial transparency. The meeting recognised the commercial success of the Nepal Premier League (NPL), whose second edition generated revenue of NPR 473.6 million. After NPR 219.6 million in expenses, NPR 161.8 million was distributed to eight franchise teams. The board approved the tournament’s financial statements. CAN scheduled its next Annual General Meeting for May 10–11, 2026, in Biratnagar, and set a mid-June deadline for 20 district committees to complete pending elections to ensure effective governance.

Lumbini Pulls Off Super Over Heist: APF Giants Toppled in Birgunj Thriller

Lumbini Pulls Off Super Over Heist: APF Giants Toppled in Birgunj Thriller

LUMBINI, NEPAL – Near the Maya Devi Temple, birthplace of the Buddha and a symbol of peace, Lumbini Province secured a hard-fought Super Over win against the powerful APF Club. The PM Cup match started as a low-scoring contest before turning into a tense thriller, ending in a tie-breaker with Lumbini just one run short. Santosh Yadav stood out, dismantling the APF lineup at key moments. **The Super Over Showdown** Both teams scored 124, heightening tension. Lumbini batted first in the tie-breaker, scoring 14 despite losing opener Akash Tripathi for zero. Yadav added 8 runs quickly. Defending 15 runs, Yadav then bowled. He dismissed captain Rohit Paudel for one and then limited Lokesh Bam and Sundeep Jora to a combined five runs. APF closed with 6 runs for 1 wicket. ![](https://bootballer.com/storage/media/posts/ZqfBIT3gBKyBYeZA4WOu25ByEoHx3JgwDScHn3ZE.jpg) **The Collapse and the Comeback** Despite several national players, APF struggled and were all out for 124 in under 40 overs. Abhishek Gautam, batting in the lower order, top-scored with 28. For Lumbini, Ajay Chauhan took 4 wickets for 14 runs. Lumbini’s chase looked easy with Captain Dev Khanal (45) and Akash Tripathi (32) at the crease. Then, they lost their last nine wickets for only 50 runs and struggled to finish. **Shifting the Table** This win moves Lumbini to fifth with five points. APF, usually strong, drops to sixth. Lumbini showed determination and resilience, overcoming tough challenges to win.

Lamichhane’s Seven-Wicket Blitz Crushes Karnali in PM Cup

Lamichhane’s Seven-Wicket Blitz Crushes Karnali in PM Cup

JANAKPUR: On Wednesday, Sandeep Lamichhane took control of the match with a thrilling display, seizing seven wickets and powering Bagmati Province to a stunning 60-run victory over Karnali Province. Building on his initial impact, Lamichhane’s bowling electrified the PM Cup Men’s National Cricket Tournament, restricting Karnali to 120 runs in 25.1 overs as they desperately chased 181. His outstanding 7 for 40 now stands as the tournament’s fourth-best performance, sparking cheers from the crowd. **The Collapse** However, after a spirited start to their chase, Karnali couldn’t handle Lamichhane’s bowling. Nischal Rawal was the only one to put up a fight, scoring 31, while Dinesh Adhikari added 22 and Bipin Shahi made 15. The rest of the middle order fell quickly to the spin attack. As the innings progressed, Lamichhane wasted no time, striking early and maintaining relentless pressure, dismantling most of Karnali’s batting order. Though Rijan Dhakal, Pratish GC, and Subas Khatri took one wicket each, Lamichhane's sensational spell stole the spotlight. Claiming seven wickets, he joins a legendary group of PM Cup performers. ![](https://bootballer.com/storage/media/posts/UXg4zswHX2br4bcFc84U0LusPls2TAQkmwJ7rg0R.jpg) **Bagmati’s Gritty Total** Earlier in the day, Bagmati had a tough start after being sent in to bat. They lost wickets regularly, but Bibek Magar held the innings together with an important 56. Ishan Pandey added 27, and Pawan Thapa scored 22, helping the team reach 180 before being bowled out in the 39th over. Despite Karnali’s captain, Diwan Pun, bowling well, his good work was undone by his team’s batting collapse. In contrast, Bagmati’s bowlers were sharp and took control of the match.

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