Kathmandu: Nepal’s hopes of qualifying for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 came to an end after a heartbreaking 4-2 loss in a penalty shootout against hosts Uzbekistan in the final qualifying match.

The tightly contested game ended 3-3 in regulation time, pushing the outcome to penalties. Star forward and captain Savitri Bhandari Samba, who had been in sensational form throughout the tournament, missed the first penalty as her shot hit the post. Goalkeeper Anjana Rana Magar also failed to convert, her shot being easily saved, leading to Nepal’s elimination.

Despite the loss, Samba continued to shine by scoring a brace in the 71st and 73rd minutes to level the score after Nepal trailed 3-1 at halftime. She had also scored in the 24th minute, completing her third consecutive hat-trick of the tournament—an extraordinary feat in Nepali football.

Earlier, Nepal had conceded in the 2nd and 11th minutes, and a penalty goal in the 37th minute made it 3-1 in favor of Uzbekistan. However, a red card for an Uzbek player in injury time of the first half gave Nepal some advantage in the second half.

Group F Overview and Previous Matches
Nepal was grouped in Group F alongside Sri Lanka, Laos, and Uzbekistan. While Sri Lanka and Laos were eliminated after back-to-back defeats, the final match between Nepal and Uzbekistan decided the group winner.

Both Nepal and Uzbekistan had identical records before the final: 6 points, 17 goals scored, and 0 conceded. Nepal had defeated Laos 9-0 and Sri Lanka 8-0, while Uzbekistan won 7-0 and 10-0 against the same opponents respectively.

Despite Nepal's impressive stats, Uzbekistan’s FIFA ranking of 51, compared to Nepal's 100, showed a significant gap in experience and infrastructure. Including this match, Uzbekistan has now defeated Nepal in all four of their encounters, with a combined goal difference of 14-6.

Samba’s Historic Performance
Captain Savitri Bhandari Samba emerged as a standout performer. She scored:

-4 goals against Laos

-3 against Sri Lanka

-3 against Uzbekistan

This brings her total to 67 goals in 61 appearances, a record for the country.

Samba is Nepal’s 11th women’s national team captain and was surprisingly selected for the role ahead of the qualifiers by coach Patrick De Wild, despite not having captained any club or age-level team previously. Still, her leadership and skill won admiration across the board.

Historical Context of Women’s Football in Nepal
Nepal’s women’s football history has seen its share of struggle. The national team began international competition in 1986 but has played only 102 matches in 39 years—largely due to lack of support and recognition from both the government and football authorities.

-Wins: 48

-Draws: 16

-Losses: 38

Nepal last participated in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in 1999, when they gained direct entry without qualifying. Since then, qualification has been elusive.

A major turning point came in 2010 with the 11th South Asian Games and the Women’s SAFF Championship, where Nepal reached the finals of both competitions. Since then, Nepal has been more active internationally, although it has still not won a major title and remains regionally confined.

Issues of Support and Infrastructure
Former captain Rama Singh criticized both the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) and the government for sidelining women’s football. According to her, whatever achievements the team has earned so far are due to the dedication and talent of the players, not institutional backing.

Despite the lack of support, some Nepali women footballers have made it to professional clubs abroad. Both Samba and Angela Tumbapo Subba have played in European leagues, showcasing the potential that exists within the squad.

The Road Ahead
Nepal’s elimination is a setback, but it also highlights the growing strength and potential of the women’s national team. With proper support, infrastructure, and regular international exposure, the dream of securing a major title remains possible for Nepali women’s football.