The first-ever SAFF Women’s Club Championship is set to provide a strong, competitive platform for top women’s football clubs in South Asia. Leading teams across the region have strengthened their squads and raised their tactical standards ahead of the tournament. Clubs such as Karachi City FC (Pakistan), APF Club (Nepal), Nasrin Sports Academy (Bangladesh) and East Bengal Women (India) are preparing with experienced and well-balanced line-ups.
Karachi City FC Women made headlines by signing Asian football star Maysa Jbarah. Her arrival adds major firepower just ahead of the championship. The Jordanian forward is widely regarded as one of Asia’s most accomplished attackers, known for her consistency, leadership, and sharp goal-scoring instincts.
Jbarah has been a pillar of Jordanian football for more than a decade. Having earned 148 caps and scored over 143 goals for the Jordan national team, she currently stands as the fourth-highest active goal scorer in international women’s football. At club level, she has represented sides across France, Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan, frequently scoring double digits each season and establishing herself as a reliable striker wherever she has played.
From Nepal, APF Club enters the competition among the favourites. Their squad features several key national-team footballers, including Anita Basnet and Saru Limbu. With a solid domestic structure and a core of experienced players, APF will be a difficult opposition for any side in the tournament.
Bangladesh’s Nasrin Sports Academy also looks formidable on paper, with the squad packed with international players. The team includes stars such as Ritu Porna Chakma, prolific forward Sabina Khatun, and former East Bengal attacker Sanjida Akhter. Given Bangladesh’s strong performances in recent SAFF tournaments, Nasrin SA will be another serious challenger for the title.
Representing India, East Bengal Women enter the championship with valuable exposure from playing in the AFC Women’s Champions League (AWCL). Their experience of competing against some of Asia’s strongest sides could give them a crucial advantage on this stage.
All in all, the inaugural SAFF Women’s Club Championship promises a thrilling contest, as the top clubs from South Asia come together to compete for regional supremacy and push the standard of women’s football even higher.
