By a Staff Reporter
Kathmandu (HamroKhelkud) – With the acquisition of the AFC club license, Church Boys United have earned the opportunity to compete in AFC competitions. The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) announced on Monday that Church Boys, last season’s A Division League champions, have met the necessary criteria to participate in the continental tournament.
As revealed by ANFA, both Church Boys United and Tribhuwan Army Football Club have fulfilled the requirements and secured club licenses for the upcoming 2024/25 season. Furthermore, ANFA disclosed that Church Boys will represent Nepal in the AFC Cup. However, the AFC has also announced that a Nepali team will compete in the third-tier AFC Challenge League after disbanding the AFC Cup.
AFC has introduced three tiers for its competitions starting from the upcoming season, with the Challenge Cup being the third tier after the Champions League Elite and Champions League 2.
For a club to obtain a club license, they must have their own academy and stadium. While the Dasharath Stadium in Nepal is put forward as the home ground for clubs due to the lack of alternative venues, recent international recognition cancelled by AFC for the stadium has left Church Boys in uncertainty regarding their home games’ venue.
Last year, Machhindra Football Club, along with Army and APF Club, secured licenses. Machhindra, as the runner-up, participated in Nepal’s AFC Cup qualifiers since Church Boys did not possess a license at that time. Machhindra progressed to the second round of the AFC Cup prelims by defeating Bhutan’s Paro FC but were eliminated in the subsequent round by India’s Mohun Bagan.
