India’s journey in the SAFF Women's Championship 2024 came to an end after a nail-biting semi-final loss to Nepal, who edged them out 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out after a contentious match in Kathmandu on Sunday.
Nepal will advance to face Bangladesh in the final, following Bangladesh's commanding 7-1 victory over Bhutan in the other semi-final.
Held at the Dasharath Stadium in front of a packed crowd, the game saw unexpected interruptions and intense off-field drama. The semi-final went to penalties after a 1-1 draw in regular time, but the total match duration stretched close to three hours due to Nepal’s prolonged protest against a referee’s call.
India initially took the lead in the 62nd minute with a brilliant strike by Sangita Basfore from outside the box. Tensions escalated, however, when Nepal’s goal was disallowed by the referee, prompting the Nepalese players to leave the field in protest, halting play for over 70 minutes. The chaotic break visibly disrupted India’s momentum, and after the match finally resumed, Nepal’s Sabitra Bhandari quickly equalized.
The game had already faced challenges earlier in the second half when Nepal’s Rekha Poudel received a second yellow card and was sent off. The discontent from Nepal’s side and the stands led to an assistant referee temporarily moving away from her post. The match continued briefly before India scored, but the celebrations were interrupted when Nepal restarted the game, kicking into India’s open net – a move not counted by the referee and which sparked the prolonged interruption.
In the shootout, Nepal converted all four of their penalties, while India missed two of their four attempts, with only Manisha and Karishma Shirvoikar finding the net. India’s captain, Ashalata Devi, and Ranjana Chanu missed their shots, sealing Nepal’s victory.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) acknowledged the confusion and frustration on the pitch, noting that the long delay seemed to affect the Indian team’s rhythm. Despite their strong showing earlier in the match, the Blue Tigresses were unable to recover their focus after the extended break.
With this loss, India bows out of the tournament, while Nepal prepares to face Bangladesh in the championship final.