‘I won’t return to Nepal if ANFA doesn’t mend its ways’

Head coach of Nepal women’s football team opens up about his frustrations with ANFA’s mismanagement and indifference, despite the team’s inspiring rise.

After Nepal’s spirited performance against Uzbekistan in the final of the 2024 AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers on July 5, national team head coach Patrick De Wilde didn’t hold back. In an exclusive and emotional interview at the team hotel in Tashkent, the Belgian UEFA pro-licensed coach opened up to the Post about his frustrations with the mismanagement at the football-governing body All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), lack of basic infrastructure, and misplaced priorities—despite the team’s inspiring rise.