India beat Nepal 1-0 in SAFF U19 Women’s Championship opener
India began their SAFF U19 Women’s Championship 2026 campaign with a 1-0 win over hosts Nepal in Pokhara. Pearl Fernandes scored in the 49th minute, giving India a strong start as they prepare for the AFC U17 Asian Cup later this year
Pokhara (Nepal): India began their SAFF U19 Women’s Championship 2026 campaign with a 1-0 win against hosts Nepal at the Pokhara Rangasala Stadium on Saturday.
Pearl Fernandes (49’) scored the only goal of the game soon after the start of the second half.
Although this is an U19 tournament, India have travelled to Pokhara with an U17 squad that is preparing for the AFC U17 Asian Cup later this year. Head coach Pamela Conti, who was appointed earlier this month, had her first game in charge, handing junior India debuts to Redima Devi Chingkhamayum and Alva Devi Senjam, both of whom started the game.
On what could only be called a rough pitch, India began with intent to get the lead early, looking to play aerial diagonals to open up the Nepal back-line. Captain Julan Nongmaithem threaded an early through ball with the outside of her boot to Redima, who fell short by a couple of feet, failing to bring the ball under control.
Nepal had a chance of their own in the 10th minute, when Barsha Oli played Sahara Limbu through inside the India box, but Elizabed Lakra showed good presence of mind to shield the Nepal forward, allowing goalkeeper Munni to collect the ball with ease.
Both teams remained locked in a midfield battle for most of the first half. With ground passes bobbing up and down, India opted for the aerial route, a tactic that almost paid off on the half-hour mark. Alva, who did well to get into a good crossing position on the left, sent a dangerous ball into the Nepal box. However, neither side managed to connect.
The second half started with a bang, as India surged forward and took the lead just four minutes in. Substitute Pritika jinked past Nepal’s Maya Maske, entered the box, and produced a cut-back. While the Nepal goalkeeper was well-positioned and managed to get a palm on the ball, she only helped India, parrying it into the path of Pearl, who buried it home from close range.
The goal lifted Nepal for some time, as they looked to get back into the game. However, their attempts to break the India defence were repeatedly thwarted by the Young Tigresses.
The hosts’ best chance came on the hour mark, when captain Sushila KC’s corner dropped in the India penalty area and fell kindly for Srijana Baduwal, who volleyed it into the side-netting.
India regained control in the closing stages, preventing Nepal from creating opportunities to equalise. Pritika had a golden chance to seal the game when she chased a long clearance by Elizabed in the 89th minute. As the ball bounced inside the Nepal box and away from her markers, Pritika only had goalkeeper Jharna Dumrakoti to beat. While the India forward did get to the ball first, her attempted chip looped wide of the goal.
India had another chance in injury time, when Elizabed played it to substitute Anwita Raghuraman, who laid it off for Julan. The India captain faked her shot before threading a pass through to Alva, but the Nepal defence managed to stop the move.
Earlier in the day, Bangladesh defeated Bhutan 12-0, a result that puts India in second spot on the table; the Young Tigresses trail Bangladesh only on goal difference. India will face Bangladesh in their next match on February 2 at 11:45 IST. The top two teams at the end of the league stage will progress to a one-off final.
