Nepal national women’s football team striker Sabitra Bhandari, popularly known as Samba, has joined French Division 1 side En Avant Guingamp Feminines until the end of the season.

“Sabitra Bhandari joins Forward! After India and Israel, the best in the history of the Nepali national team will explore Europe and the D1 Arkema championship under the Red & Black jersey! "Samba" will wear number 28,” the club said on its Facebook page on Friday.

“She is committed until June 2024 (+1 year option) in favor of En Avant and will wear number 28,” the club wrote on its website.

The 27-year-old Bhandari had travelled to France on Tuesday and completed her medical examination.

Guingamp are in the 12th position in the Division 1 Feminine with eight points from 12 matches.

“Looking good in your new colours Samba!!” All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) congratulated her on its Facebook Page.

Bhandari had become the first Nepali player to play in the European league when she signed for Israel’s Hapoel Raanana FC (Israeli clubs are UEFA members) in June last year. But she had returned to Nepal due to the ongoing Israel-Gaza war.

“Thank you for all your well wishes and words of support as we begin an exciting journey with EA Guingamp. I feel proud to represent my nation in the stage I’ve always dreamed of. I am grateful to all my teammates, coaches and personnel from APF Club and National Team who have been part of this journey. Special mention to physios and doctors who helped me during my tough phase,” Bhandari said in her Facebook page.

“I would like to thank Hapoel Ranana, esp Dorothy and Coach Berko for entrusting my talent. Hope I will repay the faith you put in me. Even though our journey came to an unexpected end, I will always have the club in my heart.”

“This new journey is exciting as well as challenging at the same time. And I hope to continue the same path in this too. Your words of support have been a great motivation to me, always.”

Bhandari, born in Simpani of Lamjung district, started her footballing career with Armed Police Force Club in 2014. She made her cut to the national team the same year and scored a goal in her debut match against Bhutan during the 2014 SAFF Women’s Championship.

Since then she has never looked back.

Bhandari joined Sethu FC in 2019 and won the Indian Women’s League championship in her first season. She moved to Gokulam Kerala the following season and helped her club win titles in 2019-20 and 2022-23, also becoming the top scorer (16 goals and 29 goals respectively) of the league in both seasons.

Bhandari is Nepal’s all time highest scorer with 43 goals in 42 games.