By Sachit Subba • Football • Jun 24, 2025 00:20 AM • 169 views
With dreams of scripting history on South Asian soil, Nepal has officially announced its 23-member squad for the upcoming SAFF U-20 Women's Championship, set to take place in Bangladesh from July 11 to 22. The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) released the final list on Monday, confirming that head coach Yam Prasad Gurung has trimmed the squad down after the second phase of closed training, releasing seven players to lock in his final selection. This edition of the U-20 Championship will follow a double round-robin format, where Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka will face each other twice. The team that finishes top of the standings after six matches will be crowned champion—adding extra weight to every fixture. Nepal kicks off its campaign against Bhutan on July 11, followed by a key clash against the hosts, Bangladesh, on July 13. The team then squares off against Sri Lanka on July 15 and again on July 17 before a rematch against Bhutan on July 19 and concludes against Bangladesh on July 21. With no semifinals or final, consistency will be crucial—and Gurung's side seems built for the grind. "This is a balanced squad with young players hungry to make a mark. We've emphasized physical preparation, mental toughness, and tactical discipline," Gurung said after the team announcement. The support staff includes assistant coaches Sandesh Kumar Shrestha and Kiran Kumar Karki, goalkeeper coach Min Bahadur Basnet, and team manager Indu Duwal—a unit built with both technical and developmental expertise in mind. Here's a look at the final 23-player squad representing Nepal:
Though Nepal has yet to win a SAFF U-20 Women's title, optimism is high. The squad features a blend of provincial talents and rising stars who have steadily impressed in domestic youth circuits and ANFA development camps. The road to glory will not be easy, particularly with a confident host nation like Bangladesh in the mix, but with discipline and resilience, Nepal believes its time has come. Can the young Gorkhalis turn promise into podiums? That answer will start unfolding on July 11, when the red and blue step onto Bangladeshi turf in pursuit of South Asian football's next breakthrough.
