Nepal saw off Pakistan 1-0 in their last group match in Bengaluru on Tuesday to cap off their SAFF Championship 2023 journey with a consolation victory.

Nepal had already crashed out of the biennial competition following their 3-1 loss to Kuwait and 2-0 defeat against India in their previous fixtures.

Coach Vincenzo Alberto Annese’s side were missing Anjan Bista—Nepal’s second highest goal scorer—due to an injury which he suffered during the India clash. But Aashish Chaudhary filled that void as he came off the bench and ensured Nepal return home with at least a victory with an unstoppable half-volley late in the second half after Laken Limbu perfectly laid the ball for him. It was Chaudhary’s first international goal for Nepal.

It is the first time since 2015 Nepal have failed to reach the semi-finals of a SAFF competition. But the Gorkhalis will still travel back home already looking to the future. Despite the painful exit, the emergence of a new crop of players promises a new dawn in the Nepali football.

Nepal reached their first ever SAFF Championship final in 2021 and that had already raised hopes that their long wait for the SAFF trophy could be coming soon. But things have gone the other way.

Most of the players including Suman Aryal, Tej Tamang, Dinesh Rajbanshi, Sujal Shrestha, Ranjit Dhimal, Gautam Shrestha, Bishal Rai, Sunil Bal and Santosh Tamang from Nepal’s historic campaign in the Maldives two years ago have left the country seeking better future.

That left Annese with no choice but to call up a young squad for the SAFF campaign. More than a dozen players—Deep Karki, Nabin Lama, Sanish Shrestha, Dipak Raj Singh Thakuri, Aashish Chaudhary, Awash Lamichhane, Nishant Khadka, Bishal Shrestha, Mani Kumar Lama, Bimal Pandey, Laken Limbu and Simanta Thapa—were heading to India carrying less than five caps.

“We have a young team,” coach Annese had said after the Kuwait match. “Ayush Ghalan, Awash Lamichhane and the other boys are only 20, or 21 years old. I think Nepal have a bright future if the players stay in the country.”

Besides, the national team had less than 10 days to prepare for the competition due to the Martyrs Memorial ‘A’ Division League.

Nepal were also drawn in a group of death [Group A] that featured the likes of seasoned opponents in record-eight time champions and holders India and Kuwait.

Yet, the young guns put up a spirited display that almost floored India at their home and there are a lot of positives to take from Bengaluru.

Ghalan, 19, came on as a second-half substitute after Kuwait had punished Nepal for their dismal performance with a 2-0 first-half lead in the opening game and his presence immediately changed dynamics of Nepali attack, with Bista finding the target for his 12th international goal and Nepal’s only third goal overall against Kuwait in their ten meetings. Bista, 25, is at his prime and will be aiming to move alongside Hari Khadka and Nirajan Rayamajhi in the all-time scoring chart for Nepal in the coming days.

Limbu—who made his debut in Nepal’s friendly against the Philippines on the eve of the SAFF—started all three matches. He is just 20 and has already established himself as a key playmaker in the midfield alongside Nabin Lama. Defender Shrestha, 20, is a regular at the back alongside Ananta Tamang and Rohit Chand and remained a key to Nepal’s solid defence against India. Lamichhane is also among Annese’s top choices and played for 45 minutes after the restart in the India game after coming on as an 83rd minute substitute against Kuwait.

The 21-year-old Manish Dangi, who began his youth career in South Korea, has proved himself on key occasions.

Chaudhary was a second-half substitute in the Kuwait match but did not play a single minute against India. But against Pakistan, he was a hero. Chaudhary was also a top scorer alongside Bista for Martyrs Memorial ‘A’ Division League champions Church Boys United.

Annese’s team, formed around the next generation, could not progress to the next stage but have had invaluable experience. And they look more than ready to take over the reins.