Thinley Namgay

Bhutan’s women’s football team is set to clash with defending champions Bangladesh in the semifinal of the 2024 SAFF Women’s Championship in Nepal on October 27.

This is Bhutan’s second semifinal appearance in the tournament’s history, following a tough loss to Bangladesh, 8-0, in the 2022 semifinals.

On the same day, the tournament will also feature a match between five-time champions India and host nation Nepal, as they vie for the other spot in the final.

Both semifinal matches are anticipated to be fiercely competitive, especially given the impressive performances displayed by all four teams in the league round, which concluded yesterday.

Bhutan booked the semifinal after crushing the Maldives  13-0 yesterday. This is the biggest win ever for Bhutan’s women team  and overall football performance from Bhutan in the international stage. 

The Dragon Ladies showcased exceptional technical and tactical skills during the match, dominating from the outset. They led 6-0 by halftime, despite missing an early penalty, and added another seven goals in the second half.

Star striker Deki Lhazom shone with five goals, while skipper Pema Choden Tshering and Tshering Yangden each contributed two goals. Additional goals came from Sonam Choden, Namgyel Dema, Deki Yangdon, and Tshering Lhaden.

This match also earned Deki Lhazom her second Player of the Match award of the tournament. Earlier, she won the player of the match during the game against Sri Lanka. She has now bagged Nepali rupees 50,000 in prize money.

Speaking to Kuensel, Deki Lhazom said that creative play encouraged by their coach made the difference.”This match served as valuable preparation for the semifinals against Bangladesh, a strong team we faced in a recent friendly. We know it will be a tough game, but we are ready to give our absolute best.”

Deki Lhazom said she was honoured to receive the Player of the Match award twice in the tournament. “This wouldn’t have been possible without the support of my incredible teammates, coaches, and, of course, our supporters. We will continue pushing forward, and we’re determined to make our nation proud in the upcoming match.”

She also thanked every Bhutanese for the continued support. 

With three matches in the league, Bhutan finished as the runner-up in Group B, amassing seven points and an impressive goal difference of 16.

The team drew against Nepal 0-0 and triumphed over Sri Lanka 4-1.