Nepal, Bhutan Battle to Goalless Draw in SAFF Championship

Nepal's women's football team faced Bhutan in a goalless draw during their opening match of the SAFF Women’s Championship 2024 at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu. This match marked the first time Nepal failed to score against Bhutan in SAFF history, despite dominating possession and creating several scoring opportunities. Notably, star player Sabitra Bhandari was absent, missing the game due to club commitments in France, which hindered Nepal's attacking prowess. Bhutan celebrated their historic draw against a favoured Nepali side, while Sri Lanka topped Group B after defeating the Maldives 1-0 earlier in the day. As a result, both Nepal and Bhutan sit with one point each, trailing Sri Lanka in the standings. The tournament format allows the top two teams from each group to progress to the semi-finals, with the championship final scheduled for October 30.