How Nepal reached the South Asian Football Championship final for the first time in 2021
The year 2021 was a milestone in Nepal’s sporting history: the country’s national football team reached the South Asian Football Championship final for the first time. You could bet on the team at 1x Bet site and other betting platforms, and you still can today.
In fact, chance played a large part in Nepal’s success. Instead of the usual groups and semifinals, the tournament used a single round-robin group: all the teams played one another, and the best went through to the final. This was possible because Pakistan and Bhutan did not take part in the event, leaving only five national teams in the tournament. That is exactly why the competition’s format had to change. And it was this change that gave Nepal a chance to reach the final. But let’s take it in order.
The group stage and the crucial match against Bangladesh
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Nepal played four matches in the group stage:
- 01.10.2021 against the Maldives, a 1–0 win;
- 04.10.2021 against Sri Lanka, a 3–2 win;
- 10.10.2021 against India, a 0–1 defeat;
- 13.10.2021 against Bangladesh, a 1–1 draw.
In total, Nepal earned seven points, which eventually enabled it to reach the South Asian Football Championship final.
The match against Bangladesh proved decisive. Before the game, a draw would have been enough for Nepal to advance in the tournament. That was what the team was counting on. At first, however, things on the pitch did not go as expected: Nepal struggled for a long time to level the score. The match was fiercely contested: Nepal tried to turn it around, but Bangladesh would not give in either. There were serious infringements too—in the 78th minute, Bangladesh goalkeeper Zico was shown a red card for handling the ball outside the penalty area. Nevertheless, Nepal managed to secure a draw, with Bista’s converted penalty securing the equaliser.
What happened in the end
As a result, Nepal finished second in the group standings, with only India above it. The two teams met in the final on 16.10.2021 at the National Stadium in Malé. At first, things went well for Nepal in the tournament decider—it couldn’t score, but it also kept India from doing so. In the 49th minute, however, India breached the opposition defence, took control, and went on to win 3–0.
A reminder: you can bet on matches involving the Nepal national team and on South Asian Football Championship games on 1xBet’s site, where all the top events are available. The selection goes beyond regional tournaments—you’ll find major sporting events from around the world on the bookmaker’s site.
When did Nepal reach the SAFF Championship final for the first time?
Nepal reached the South Asian Football Championship final for the first time in 2021, marking a significant milestone in the country’s football history.
How did Nepal qualify for the 2021 SAFF Championship final?
Nepal earned seven points from four group-stage matches, recording two wins, one draw and one defeat. This was enough to finish second in the standings behind India and qualify for the final.
When and where was the 2021 SAFF Championship final played?
The final took place on 16 October 2021 at the National Stadium in Malé, Maldives, with Nepal facing India.
What was the result of the 2021 SAFF Championship final?
India defeated Nepal 3–0. Nepal had initially kept India from scoring, but India broke through in the 49th minute and went on to secure the championship.
Why was Nepal’s 2021 SAFF Championship campaign significant?
The campaign was historic because Nepal reached the final for the first time. Despite losing to India, the team’s group-stage performances and qualification represented an important achievement in Nepalese football history.
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