Kathmandu, November 16

Nepali national football team members, who won the AFC Solidarity Cup in Malaysia on Tuesday, received a warm welcome upon their arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport today.

Minister for Youth and Sports Daljit Sripaili, National Sports Council Member Secretary Keshab Kumar Bista, All Nepal Football Association Vice-President Mani Kunwar, ANFA officials, coaches, former players, women’s national football team members, U-14 football team members as well as a huge crowd of football fans welcomed the team. Nepal won the maiden title of the AFC-organised tournament.

The ANFA also organised a victory rally that went through Gaushala, Battisputali, Maitidevi, Putalisadak, Ghantaghar, Sahid Gate, New Road, Durbar Marg, Tripureswor, Thapathali, Kupandole, Pulchowk, Mangal Bazar, Gwarkho and ended at the ANFA Complex in Lalitpur.

Sujal Shrestha scored the solitary goal in Nepal’s 1-0 victory over Macau in the final match.

Nepal finished the campaign as an only unbeaten team in the competition. They played a goalless draw against Timor Leste, beat Brunei Darussalam 3-0 in group stage and produced a 3-0 win on penalties against Laos in the semi-final match after the teams  settled for 2-2 draw.

Nepal’s previous best run in an AFC-organised tournament was a semi-final appearance in AFC Challenge Cup in Bangladesh in 2006.

This was second title for the national team in a year. Nepal had won Bangabandhu Gold Cup in Bangladesh in January ending the 23-year title drought.

Nepal’s U-23 team, captained by Biraj Maharjan, had also won South Asian Games football gold medal in India in February.

Ministry of Youth and Sports has  announced a reward of Rs 300,000 each to the members of the team.