As Nepal gears up to host the SAFF Women's Championship for the third consecutive time, excitement is building ahead of the opening match between India and Pakistan in Group A, scheduled for Thursday.

Host nation Nepal will kick off their campaign against Bhutan in Group B on Friday.

All seven participating teams have arrived in Kathmandu, with captains and coaches gathering for a pre-match conference on Wednesday. Among them, Rajendra Tamang, the head coach of the Nepali women's team, expressed confidence in his squad's readiness for the competition, despite limited preparation time.

“Because of the women’s league, we did not get to do much for preparation, but we are ready for the championship,” Tamang stated.

He acknowledged past challenges, particularly the defensive errors that led to a final loss in the previous edition. “Before this, Nepal lost in the final due to a mistake in defense. This time we have improved our defense.”

Tamang, who served as an assistant coach during the 2022 championship when Nepal reached the final before being defeated by Bangladesh, emphasized the team's determination to break their title drought this time. Defending champions Bangladesh will be looking to maintain their stronghold in the tournament, making for a competitive atmosphere.

Photo: ANFA