The South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) is set to propose holding the SAFF Women's Championship annually, aiming to leverage the rapid growth and rising quality of women's football in the region. Currently staged every two years since 2010, the tournament has seen India dominate the first five editions, while Bangladesh has claimed the title in the last two consecutive tournaments. Nepal has been a consistent finalist, reaching the championship match in six out of seven editions.
Rising Profile in Asia
South Asia's growing presence in women's football was evident at the recent AFC Asian Cup, where India (world rank 69) and Bangladesh (112) participated. Nepal narrowly missed out, losing to Uzbekistan on penalties in the final qualifier. Despite these achievements, no South Asian team has qualified for the next year's AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, even though the tournament expanded to 24 teams in 2019.
SAFF General Secretary Purushottam Kattel stated, "It's not been decided by the executive committee yet, but the administration will propose to the committee to have the SAFF Women's Championship every year." He emphasized that now is the right time to develop women's football, noting it as an area where South Asia can excel both in Asia and globally.
Encouraging Performances
Although India and Bangladesh failed to secure points at the Asian Cup, Kattel highlighted their encouraging performances. "India, Bangladesh and Nepal are among the stronger teams in the region. Other teams are working hard to improve and stay positive. That's what made us think of a competition every year," he said. SAFF is now seeking resources to organize the event annually.
Moving to the Next Level
Kattel, who spent 17 years at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) before joining SAFF, stressed the need to elevate teams to the next level. "Within the South Asian region, the competition is tough and unpredictable. Even our under-20 teams are doing well, with two qualifying for the AFC U-20 championship. We need to ensure the teams now move to the next level," he added.
The latest edition of the SAFF Women's Championship kicked off in Goa earlier this week, showcasing the region's talent and potential.
