The participation of Lama, who has 28 international goal under her belt,  had been under clouds after she and her three other Nepal Armed Police Force Club teammates —Bhagwati Thapa, Usha Bhandari and Laxmi Poudel—were kept under 21-day quarantine, a precautionary measure after their return from ebola-hit region Liberia.

The four players were sent to Liberia for peace-keeping mission. Following the three-week long observation, four footballers got all clear from the departmental team.

Lama was the only Liberia-return player to be included in the team after Thapa, Bhandari and Paudel failed the physical fitness test.

“It is a huge boost to get one of the best forwards back into the team. We were eagerly waiting to see if these four players could make it before announcing the final squad. Lama was the only player getting through the fitness test,” said coach Kumar Katwal on Wednesday.

The coach is hoping to erase the bitter memories of finishing runners-up twice in the first two editions by finally clinching the title in the third attempt.

“Her (Lama) presence in the team will greatly increase our push for the title,” said the Nepal coach. The two-time runners up Nepal had lost in final to India 1-0 in 2010 and 3-1 in 2012.

In all eight nations including hosts Pakistan, Nepal, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives and Sri Lanka will vie for the biennial championship.

Along with Lama, the Nepali team comprises of Namita Kumari Dali, Chandra Devi Dahal, Anjila Rai, Ghim Kumari Gurung, Amrita Jaisi, Mana Maya Limbu, Menuka Giri, Punam Jarga Magar, Dipa Rai, Yasodha Lama, Sajana Rana, Bhujunga Rai, Renuka Kumari, Dipa Adhikari, Sabitra Bhandari, Anjali Waiba, Anita Basnet, Krishna Khatri, and  Niru Thapa.