Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: The Nepalese national women’s team, invited to the West Asian Football Federation (WAF) Women’s Championship, sent shockwaves through the tournament with a stunning 4-1 demolition of Syria in their opening Group B match on Tuesday.

Amisha Karki, Anita Basnet, Sabitra Bhandari, and Rekha Poudel etched their names in the history books, each finding the net for the Himalayan Heroines. Syria’s lone consolation came from Captain Noor Mustafa, but it was a mere blip in Nepal’s dominant display.

Early Blitz: Nepal should have spent more time establishing themselves, with Amisha firing home a rebound in the 10th minute. Three minutes later, Anita produced a moment of magic, curling a corner kick directly into the net, leaving the Syrian defence bewildered.

Sabitra piled on the misery for Syria in the 19th minute, finishing off a delightful pass from Preeti Rai. Before the half-time whistle, Geeta Rana capitalized on a goalkeeping error by Angela to extend Nepal’s lead to an unassailable 4-0.

Rekha added another goal in the 69th minute, converting a Sabitra cross with aplomb. Introducing Saraswati Hamal added fresh energy to the Nepalese attack, showcasing their depth and tactical flexibility.

Debut Delight: This emphatic victory marks a historic moment for Nepal, which is participating in the WAF Championship as an invited team representing the western region (Gulf). Their confident performance and clinical finishing have sent a strong message to their opponents, and they head into their next match against Iraq on Thursday with their sights set firmly on further success.