The ANFA National League: A New Era in Nepalese Football
The ANFA National League officially commenced on January 14, featuring a total of 17 teams. Four of these teams—Laligurans Association Club, Chitlang FC, Nawa Jana Jagriti Yuwa Club, and Kankrebihar Youth Club—qualified from the ANFA President League. The remaining 13 teams are drawn from the previous A-Division Clubs, with Himalayan Sherpa Club opting out of participation.
Initially planned as a 10-team tournament, the National League was expanded to 17 teams. This expansion positions it as a substitute for the Martyr’s Memorial ‘A’ Division League, which last took place in 2023. The tournament is currently being played in a single round-robin format, with the top team securing the title. According to the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), the winner will qualify for the AFC club competition, although this claim is yet to be confirmed.
The National League has been affected by a six-day break due to the parliamentary elections held on Thursday. By Sunday, the league had reached its halfway stage, with 68 out of 136 matches completed.
Key Talking Points from the League So Far
APF and Laligurans Remain Unbeaten
Among the 17 teams in the league, two have remained unbeaten: Laligurans and Armed Police Force (APF). Laligurans, the President League champions, have shown impressive performance. They won the President League without a loss and have maintained their unbeaten streak in the National League as well. In eight matches, they have secured five wins and three draws.
Their early campaign included a 1-0 victory over Jawalakhel, a 4-1 win against Nawa Jana Jagriti Yuwa Club, and a 1-0 triumph over Nepal Police Club. Their win against Nepal Police, a departmental side, surprised many, earning them the underdog tag.
Laligurans have shared points with Tribhuvan Army FC, Machhindra FC, and Friends’ Club Kopundole. On the other hand, APF have not suffered any losses in the National League. With six wins and two draws in eight matches, they currently lead the table with 20 points, followed closely by Laligurans with 18 points.
APF and Laligurans are set to face each other on March 21, an encounter that could become the highlight of the tournament if both teams remain unbeaten.
Teams at the Bottom of the Table
Nawa Jana Jagriti have yet to score any points, losing all eight of their matches so far. Kankrebihar, with one point from eight games, would have been in a similar position had they not managed a 2-2 draw with Chitlang.
No Clear Title Favourites Yet
Despite their unbeaten records, APF and Laligurans are not considered clear favorites for the title. Other teams such as New Road Team (NRT), Planning Boyz United, Tribhuvan Army FC, Church Boys United, and Machhindra FC are also in contention. None of the other 10 teams have surpassed double figures on the points table.
Controversy Surrounding APF
APF’s current performance can be seen as a major comeback. Previously among the bottom teams in the A-Division League, they were relegated but managed to avoid relegation after the ANFA Appeal Committee found Three Star Club guilty of fielding ineligible players. This led to a reversal of the result, ultimately relegating Three Star and promoting APF.
However, Three Star challenged the decision in court, and on February 25, the Patan High Court ruled in their favor. The full verdict is expected after the March 5 polls. If the decision is upheld, APF may be ineligible to participate in the National League, creating uncertainty.
Goal Scoring Highlights
A total of 186 goals have been scored in 68 matches, with 102 different players contributing. Abayomi Oluwaseun Fakunle of Church Boys United leads the goal-scoring charts with seven goals. He has netted in five games, including two each against Jawalakhel and Nawa Jana Jagriti, and one each against Nepal Police, Tribhuvan Army, and Machhindra.
Other notable scorers include Nawayug Shrestha and Abdul Yusuph Haule with six goals each. Timothy Chiemerie Okereke, Pradip Lama, Yubraaj Khadka, and Milan Rai have each scored five goals.
Five hat-tricks have been recorded in the league. Sujan Dangol of Shree Bhagawati Club achieved the fastest hat-trick, scoring in the 87th, 89th, and 90+4 minutes against Kankrebihar. Other hat-trick performers include Milan Rai, Papa Ibou Kebe, Abdul Yusuph Haule, and Richard Chukwudalu Onyema.
Upcoming Matches and Schedule
As the National League resumes on March 8, Dasharath Stadium will host three matches. Jawalakhel will face Machhindra first, followed by Sankata vs Laligurans, and finally Church Boys United vs Satdobato Youth Club.
Before the league concludes on April 12, there will be another nine-day break. The league will also see a 10-day break from March 24 to April 2 for the Nepal men’s AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers against Laos on March 31, following a friendly match against Hong Kong on March 26.
