Multinational company Unilever Nepal has announced it will sponsor the Nepal women’s football team for a year.

According to the agreement it reached with the football governing body All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), the company will provide ANFA Rs2.5 million as chief sponsor. This is the biggest sponsorship the Nepal national women’s football team has received so far.

ANFA president Pankaj Nembang and Unilever Nepal managing director Amlan Mukharjee signed the deal on Tuesday.

“Unilever Nepal acknowledges the significant influence that the national women’s football team can have on the future of women’s athletics,” reads a press release issued by the company. “Taking this opportunity, Unilever Nepal seeks to contribute to the growth and empowerment of women in sports, cementing a lasting legacy for the future.”

The release added, “Unilever Nepal, in association with ANFA, will work closely to support and promote the women’s football team in all aspects. It aims to contribute to the growth and success of the team, encourage the next generation of female footballers, and continue to plan and strive to someday take Nepal to the globally renowned international platforms.”

ANFA president Nembang said that the football governing body aims to make it to 2027 or 2031 Women’s World Cup and the team will prepare accordingly.

National women’s team captain Anjila Tumbapo Subba thanked ANFA and Unilever for the deal. “The deal will be vital in women empowerment and also encourage the future generation of women footballers of the country,” she said.

Minister for Youth and Sports Dig Bahadur Limbu, who also attended the signing programme, made a gaffe when he extended his best wishes for good performance in the Women’s World Cup set to begin in Australia and New Zealand on Thursday. Nepal however, had already crashed out from the first stage of World Cup Qualifiers in September 2021.

“You all have been performing really well and you are set to visit Australia and New Zealand for the World Cup,” Limbu said, matter-of-factly. “I am confident that you will return home victorious. Every person in the country has faith in you.”