Kathmandu: In the opening match of the 14th Men's SAFF Championship 2023, Nepal faced a defeat against Kuwait with a score of 1-3. The match took place at the Kantirao Stadium in India. Kuwait emerged victorious with goals from Captain Khalid Hajih, Shabaib Alkhaldi, and Mohammad Abdullah.

Kuwait took an early lead when Captain Khalid scored a header in the 23rd minute of the game. Shabaib extended their lead with a goal in the 42nd minute. In the 65th minute, Mohammad successfully converted a penalty, further strengthening Kuwait's position with a 3-0 lead. Nepal managed to score a consolation goal in the 68th minute through Anjan Bista.

The Men's SAFF Championship features eight different countries competing for the title. Alongside Nepal, the participating countries include India, Bangladesh, Kuwait, Lebanon, Bhutan, Pakistan, and the Maldives.

Nepal's next match is scheduled against host country India on the upcoming Saturday.