KATHMANDU: Nepal’s U-20 women’s football team has departed for Bhutan to compete in the AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers from August 6 to 12 in Thimphu.

Placed in Group B with North Korea, Saudi Arabia, and hosts Bhutan, Nepal aims to hold off former champions North Korea to qualify.

Captain Birsana Chaudhary said the team is working to fix its weak defense, which cost them the title in the recent SAFF Championship in Bangladesh, where they finished runners-up.

Nepal had previously thrashed Bhutan and Sri Lanka but lost both matches against Bangladesh, exposing defensive issues.

North Korea remains the toughest opponent in the group, having won the U-20 World Cup thrice and the Asian Cup twice.

Nepal is hopeful, having already beaten Bhutan convincingly and considering Saudi Arabia a weaker side. Group winners will qualify directly for the Asian Cup in Thailand.