KATHMANDU: Nepal national women’s team star striker Sabitra ‘Samba’ Bhandari will be out of action for nearly a year following a serious knee injury.

Wellington Phoenix, her Australian A-League club, confirmed that she will miss the remainder of the season. Samba suffered a torn right knee anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) graft during the second half of last week’s Round 11 match against Brisbane Roar, after colliding with goalkeeper Chloe Lincoln.

An MRI scan later confirmed that the 28-year-old striker has re-injured the same ACL she had surgery on in 2021. The club expects Samba to be sidelined for 9 to 12 months. Wellington Phoenix head coach Bev Priestman expressed the team’s disappointment, saying, “She is not only an outstanding player but also an extraordinary person. Samba is one of the most popular members of our squad. We are deeply saddened by this injury, but she is determined to return to the pitch as soon as possible.”

Samba is the third Phoenix player to miss this season due to ACL injuries, following Dutch midfielder Tessel Middag and Alyssa Whinhyam. With the league’s registration window closed, the club can only sign free agents to fill the gap, though they have already signed American forward Makala Woods ahead of the December 29 deadline.