In the opening match of the SAFF Champions Football 2023, Nepal faced a tough loss of 3-1 to Kuwait. The match showcased Kuwait’s dominance and World Cup experience as they controlled the field throughout the game. Nepal had a promising start; however, they faltered and failed to keep up with the pace of the Kuwaiti players.
Kuwait took the lead in the 22nd minute with a goal from their captain, Khalid Hajiya. Just before halftime, Sabib Al Khaldi added another goal, which left Nepal with a lot of catching up to do. In contrast, Kuwait maintained their momentum and played with confidence.
At the beginning of the second half, Nepal’s Sani Shrestha missed a golden opportunity to score, which could have given their team a fighting chance. Later, Kuwait was awarded a penalty, which was converted by Mohammed Abdullah, extending Kuwait’s lead to 3-0. However, Nepal’s Anjan Bista managed to pull one back with a well-executed goal and becoming the third Nepali player to score against Kuwait.
Towards the end of the game, Nepal tried to create chances but could not convert them into successful attempts and ultimately came up short against a dominant Kuwait team.
Nepal, India, Pakistan, and Kuwait have been grouped together in Group ‘A’ of the ongoing SAFF Championship. Nepal will face hosts India in their next game at Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bangalore on Saturday.
The defeat to Kuwait serves as a wake-up call for Nepal, who must bring their A-game against a formidable Indian team in their upcoming match. Nepal will need to up their game and show more determination to score goals and defend against their opposition to improve their standing in the SAFF Championship.
