How Did East Bengal FC Become Champions of the Inaugural SAFF Women’s Club Championship 2025?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Unbeaten Season: East Bengal FC completed the tournament without losing or conceding any goals.
- Star Performances: Fazila Ikwaput and Shilky Devi Hemam were standout players in the finals.
- Historic Win: This marks the first time the SAFF Women’s Club Championship has been held.
- Group Stage Dominance: East Bengal showcased their superiority throughout the group stage with multiple convincing victories.
- Professional Management: Their ability to control the game effectively was crucial in securing the championship.
Kathmandu, Dec 20 (NationPress) East Bengal FC has made history by securing the title of the inaugural SAFF Women’s Club Championship 2025 after a decisive 3-0 triumph against Nepal’s APF (Armed Police Forces) in the final held at Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu on Saturday.
The champions of the Indian Women's League (IWL) recently concluded an unbeaten season, winning every match without conceding a single goal.
In a remarkable display, Ugandan striker Fazila Ikwaput showcased her skills by netting both goals for her team in the finals (21 & 46 minutes), bringing her total in the tournament to an impressive nine goals.
The second standout player for East Bengal was Shilky Devi Hemam, who scored the final goal of the match (35 minutes), ensuring that East Bengal maintained full control.
Coach Anthony Andrews, who previously guided East Bengal through the group stages of the IWL, led his team to the finals after finishing atop their group. East Bengal began their group stage strongly, achieving a remarkable 4-0 victory over Transport United from Bhutan. They followed that with a 2-0 win against the defending champions, Karachi City from Pakistan. Their most incredible performance was a staggering 7-0 rout of Nasrin from Bangladesh, where Ikwaput scored five goals.
In the group stage of the IWL, the only team to hold East Bengal to a draw (0-0) was APF, thanks to a phenomenal performance by APF's goalkeeper Anjana Rana Magar. Unfortunately for the Nepali side, they couldn’t replicate that form in the finals.
On the day of the final, both teams started cautiously, but it was East Bengal who quickly took command. Ikwaput opened the scoring in the 20th minute, soon followed by Hemam’s goal just before halftime, giving East Bengal a decisive 2-0 lead at the break. Following halftime, Ikwaput struck again, sealing the match.
East Bengal managed the game expertly after establishing a three-goal lead and ultimately clinched the championship. They achieved this remarkable feat without conceding a single goal throughout the tournament, finishing with four wins and one draw, and proudly becoming the first-ever champions of the SAFF Women's Club Championship.