By Sachit Subba • Football • Apr 01, 2026 01:47 AM • 42 views
VIENTIANE— Nepal’s dismal AFC Asian Cup qualification campaign ended in a whimper on Wednesday night as the Gorkhalis slumped to a 1-0 defeat against Laos at the New Laos National Stadium.
The loss marks a clean sweep for the Southeast Asian side, who previously edged out Nepal 2-1 in the opening leg. For Nepal, the result confirms a winless run that leaves the national side searching for answers in a period of deep institutional turmoil.
Laos Dominates the Turf
From the opening whistle, the home side pinned Nepal back with a relentless high press and superior ball movement. Laos captain Bounphachan Bounkong nearly broke the deadlock in the 10th minute, forcing a desperate save from veteran keeper Kiran Chemjong to keep the visitors level. The pressure was suffocating. Nepal struggled to even string a meaningful counter-attack together.
While Manish Dangi wasted a rare opening in the 40th minute, the first half somehow ended scoreless despite the disparity in quality. That deadlock didn't last.
The Breakthrough
Just three minutes after the restart, the hosts finally turned their dominance into points. Chony Wenpaserth sliced through the defense from the edge of the box, sliding a clinical pass to Bounkong, who danced past two defenders and the keeper to slot the ball home from just outside the six-yard box. It was a masterclass in composure. Nepal never recovered.
A New Era Stalls
The match served as a baptism of fire for head coach Guglielmo Arena, who failed to spark a revival in his first major outing with the squad. Despite the grim result, Arena handed debuts to Yubaraj Khadka and Pemba Dorje Lama, though the newcomers found little room to shine in a stagnant offensive setup.
Off-Pitch Turmoil
Nepal’s exit is further clouded by chaos back home, with the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) currently serving a three-month suspension handed down by the National Sports Council. While Nepal technically finishes with three points—gifted by a walkover after Malaysia’s disciplinary sanctions—the team failed to earn a single point on the pitch.
Laos surged to six points with the win. Nepal returns to Kathmandu empty-handed.
