Nepal lost to Tajikistan 4-0 in their international football friendly match at the Dushanbe Central Stadium in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on Wednesday.

Shervoni Mabatshoev and Alisher Jalilov both scored double for Tajikistan.

The Crowns looked far better than a Nepali side who were playing for the first time in five months, since their second round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2027 Asian Cup Qualification match against Yemen on June 11.

The Gorkhalis, under their new head coach Nabin Neupane, were also entering the ground without any playing opportunities back at home too, as their football governing body All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) has failed to organise the country’s premier league—Martyrs Memorial A-Division League—for over 500 days now.

And their lack of playing time and fitness was obvious against Tajikistan, who kept Nepal under pressure throughout the game.

Tajikistan took the lead in the 18th minute when Mabatshoev drove home a low shot after running into a well-placed cross from Safarov Manuchehr.

Jalilov doubled Tajikistan’s lead in the 29th minute slamming a rebound after Nepal captain and goalkeeper Kiran Kumar Limbu stopped his initial effort from the penalty kick, which was awarded to the hosts for Sanish Shrestha’s bad challenge on Mabatshoev.

Tajikistan went into the break with a comfortable 3-0 lead after Mabatshoev headed in a cross from Ehsoni Panshanbe in the 44th minute.

The hosts got their fourth in the 49th, thanks to a sloppy defending from Chiring Lama. Shahrom Samiev dispossessed Lama, outmuscled him and fed Parvizjon Umarboev into the penalty area. Umarboev cut back for Jalilov who arrowed a powerful shot from near the penalty spot giving Limbu no chance.

Nepal threw in Ayush Ghalan after 74 minutes in search of a consolation goal but it never came.

It was the fourth time Nepal played against Tajikistan. Nepal last met Tajikistan in 2018 during the Bangabandu Gold Cup, where they lost 2-0. Nepal also lost to Tajikistanis 2-1 and 3-0 during the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers in 2017.

Nepal play their friendly against Afghanistan on Saturday.