Nepal edge Bhutan with a lucky goal in SAFF Women’s opener
Gita Rana’s deflected effort gives Nepal a narrow win in Goa as the six-time runners-up struggle without injured striker Sabitra Bhandari and miss several chances against Bhutan. Nepali players celebrate the goal against Bhutan during their 1-0 win at the 2026 SAFF Women’s Championship in Goa, India, on Monday. Photo: Courtesy of ANFA
One lucky goal was what gave Nepal a winning start against Bhutan at the 2026 SAFF Women’s Championship at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa, India, on Monday.
Having missed a couple of chances already, Nepal earned a corner in the 23rd minute. Centre back Gita Rana was in the opponent’s box for the set piece.
A cross from the corner spot by Dipa Shahi found Puja Rana at the near post, just at the edge of the six-yard box. Her header then found Anita Lamjel, the debutant who was playing in the position of Sabitra Bhandari ‘Samba’, at the far post.
Lamjel, who plays for Tribhuvan Army Club in domestic football, passed the ball back near the penalty spot, where Gita was waiting.
Gita did not seem to have attempted a shot. It looked as if she was passing the ball to Anita KC since the ball was travelling far away from the frame. The ball, meanwhile, got deflected to the back of the net when Dorji Edon tried to clear it for Bhutan.
The match report by the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF), however, has given the goal to Gita.
Nevertheless, the win would have been far from satisfactory for the Nepal women, who entered the tournament to lift their first international trophy without their main striker Samba.
Without Samba, who is recovering from her second ACL surgery, Nepal struggled against Bhutan in the previous edition at home in 2024 as well. Nepal had then played a goalless draw with Bhutan, making it the first match where Nepal did not score a single goal in their history of the SAFF Women’s Championship.
Nepal were also at the brink of conceding against Bhutan on Monday, especially when goalie Subba and the defenders made mistakes. But they got lucky here as well.
Further, Nepal, a six-time runner-up in the past seven editions of the SAFF Women’s Championship, also missed Preeti Rai in the midfield and Sabita Rana Magar in the wing.
Magar is recovering from a knee surgery while Rai is expected to reach India from Cambodia, where she is playing in the top league, before the semifinals. Nepal, who are in Group A with Bhutan and Sri Lanka, are most likely to face either India or Bangladesh in the semis.
As per the tournament format, the top team from a group will face the second-placed team of the opposite group in the semis. India and Bangladesh are accompanied by the Maldives in Group B.
India defeated the Maldives 5-0 in the second match on Monday.
Nepal have a gap of five days before their last group match, against Sri Lanka on May 31. Before that, Bhutan will face Sri Lanka on May 28.
Nayak Paudel covers sports for The Kathmandu Post. He previously worked at the Post (2018–19) and spent over five years at The Rising Nepal. His reporting spans crime, health, education, and social issues.
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