Members of the Nepali U-20 squad are optimistic about making it to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup through the qualification process for the first time as players and coaches, alongside officials from the All Nepal Football Association, expressed determination at the team’s farewell at Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu on Wednesday.

While the current senior women’s team has been termed the ‘golden generation’, ANFA stressed that the U20 players were the best back-up to give continuity to the hype surrounding the senior team, and help Nepal qualify for the maiden World Cup in 2031.

“We have dreamed of qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2031,” said Kiran Rai, general secretary at ANFA. “Our senior team is delighted to see new faces with such talents backing them up.”

The Nepali U20 team returned home from Bangladesh after finishing as the runner-up in the SAFF Championship earlier this month. They will now travel to another South Asian neighbour, Bhutan, the hosts for the Asian Cup qualifiers of Group A.

“We are looking forward to qualifying for the Asian Cup,” said skipper Birsana Chaudhary. “We have been training well to improve our game from that of the SAFF tournament.”

However, it will not be easy. While Nepal are expected to have an easy time against the hosts, having defeated them by 6-1 and 8-0 at the SAFF tournament in Bangladesh, head coach Yam Prasad Gurung stressed that his team would defeat the other group opponent, Saudi Arabia, as well.

Meanwhile, Nepal’s major challenge will be North Korea, two-time Asian Cup winners and three-time World Cup winners. Further, North Korea are the defending world champion in the U20 category, having won the event in Colombia in 2024.

Nepal would have also faced Mongolia in Group A, but the team withdrew a week ago. Of the 33 teams participating in the qualifier, Group A had five teams, while the other seven groups had four each. Now, all groups have four each.

The eight group winners will qualify for the Asian Cup, which has 12 slots. Thailand have already qualified as the hosts, and the remaining three slots will be provided to the best second-placed teams.

“We have focused more on defence and midfield,” said coach Gurung. “While facing North Korea, we will try to keep the results in our favour and progress to the Asian Cup.”

Nepal will face Bhutan, Saudi Arabia and North Korea on August 6, 8 and 10, respectively. All the games will be played at the Thimphu-based Changlimithang Stadium.

The biennial AFC tournament was the U19 Women’s Championship for the first ten editions (2002 to 2019). There were no qualifications for the first two editions in 2002 and 2004.

It was in the second edition hosted by China that Nepal played in the Asian event. Nepal had then lost 0-19, 1-6 and 1-4 to North Korea, Thailand and Uzbekistan, respectively.

However, ever since the qualification process began, Nepal have not been able to enter the biggest Asian tournament in the age category.

“I saw the team’s performance in the SAFF Championship in Bangladesh,” said Tanka Lal Ghising, member-secretary at the National Sports Council and the chief guest of the farewell programme. “We believe that this team has high potential, can turn the tides and help Nepal qualify for the Asian Cup. The country wishes you all the best.”