KATHMANDU: The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) has announced the national women’s football team that will compete in the SAFF Women’s Championship scheduled to be held in Goa, India.

Head coach Nabin Neupane has named a 23-member final squad under the captaincy of goalkeeper Anjila Tumbapo Subba.

According to ANFA, the squad was selected from an initial 35 players who had been called up for closed training.

The final selection includes two players who have earned their first call-up to the senior national team, while three players have made a comeback.

Two regular members of the squad have been left out.

Anita Lamjel and Birsana Chaudhary have been included in the senior team for the first time.

Meanwhile, Gita Rana, Sabina Chaudhary, and Anita KC have returned to the squad.

Sarawasti Hamal and Manmaya Damai, who were part of the previous team, were dropped from the final selection.

Nepal has been placed in Group A alongside Sri Lanka and Bhutan. Group B consists of defending champions Bangladesh, India, and the Maldives.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals.

Nepal will open its campaign against Bhutan on May 25. On the same day, India will face the Maldives in Group B.

Nepal will then play Sri Lanka on May 31, while India will meet Bangladesh on the same day.

The semi-finals are scheduled for June 3, and the final will be played on June 6.

Nepal 23-member squad

Goalkeepers: Anjila Tumbapo Subba (captain), Anjana Rana Magar, Usha Nath

Defenders: Pooja Rana, Gita Rana, Bimala BK, Hira Kumari Bhujel, Pratiksha Chaudhary, Samikshya Ghimire, Nisha Thokar, Sabina Chaudhary

Midfielders: Renuka Nagarkoti, Deepa Shahi, Preeti Rai, Saru Limbu, Birsana Chaudhary, Anita Basnet, Anita Lamjel, Anita KC

Forwards: Rashmi Ghising, Rekha Poudel, Purnima Rai, Mina Deuba