Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: In a dramatic come-from-behind victory, Nepal booked their place in the WAFF Women’s Championship final with a thrilling 2-1 win over Lebanon on Tuesday night.

The underdogs faced an uphill battle after conceding their own goal in the first half, but a resilient second-half performance fueled by crucial goals from Sabitra Bhandari and Preeti Rai sealed their historic qualification for the final.

Bhandari sparked the comeback in the 75th minute, capitalizing on a defensive lapse by Lebanon to equalize. The momentum shifted decisively in Nepal’s favour, and Rai delivered the knockout blow in stoppage time with a stunning strike from outside the box, sending the Nepalese contingent into raptures.

Before the comeback, Nepal struggled to convert their chances despite dominating possession. However, credit must go to coach Rajendra Tamang’s astute substitutions, with Bimala Chaudhary and Rashmi Kumari Ghising injecting fresh energy and attacking impetus.

This victory marks a watershed moment for Nepali women’s football. This is their first appearance in the WAFF Championship final and offers them a chance to rewrite history and break their 38-year trophy drought.

Despite falling short in 10 previous finals, Nepal’s determined squad, led by captain Anjila, are hungry for success and will aim to script a fairytale ending on the grand stage against Jordan, who thrashed Palestine 5-0 in the other semi-final.