Rekha Poudel

Rekha Poudel

Personal information
Date of birth	(2001-01-07) 7 January 2001 (age 24)
Place of birth	Khotang District, Nepal
Height	1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Abu Dhabi Country Club
Number	13
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
–2019	Biratnagar Metropolitan City
2019–2021	APF
2021–2022	Nepal Police Club
2023	Sports Odisha	7	(4)
2024–	Abu Dhabi Country Club	4	(2)
International career^‡
2014	Nepal U14	5	(+1)
2018	Nepal U18	4	(7)
2018–2019	Nepal U19	4	(2)
2019–	Nepal	19	(11)
Medal record Women's football Representing  Nepal SAFF Women's Championship Runner-up Nepal 2019 Team Runner-up Nepal 2022 Team Runner-up Nepal 2024 Team WAFF Women's Championship Runner-up Saudi Arabia 2024 Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 6 October 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 29 February 2024

Rekha Poudel (Nepali: रेखा पौडेल; born 7 January 2001) is a Nepalese professional footballer who plays for Emirati side Abu Dhabi Country Club and the Nepal national team.[1]

Club career

In 2019, Paudel played a pivotal role in Biratnagar Metropolitan City's triumph in the Deputy Mayor Cup Women's Football Tournament and was named the tournament's best player.[2]

In April 2023, She joined Indian Women's League Side Sports Odisha.[3][4]

Abu Dhabi Country Club

On 5 August 2024, Poudel signed with the United Arab Emirates champions Abu Dhabi Country Club ahead of for their debut in the 2024–25 AFC Women's Champions League.[5] On 25 August 2024, She made her debut for the club in a 2–1 victory over Laos's Young Elephants, netting her first goal in the 46th minute and becoming the first Nepalese player to score in the AFC Women's Champions League.[6] On the final matchday against Host Al Nassr, She scored the winning goal in the 68th minute, securing the club's place in the group stage of the inaugural edition.[7] On 6 October 2024, Rekha Poudel became the first Nepali footballer, male or female, to compete in the group stage of the AFC Women's Champions League, making her debut in the final round of the competition, not just the preliminary round. [8]

International career

Youth

In 2018, 17-year-old Poudel was a part of the Nepalese under-18 team who finished as runners-up in the 2018 SAFF U-18 Women's Championship. She scored 7 goals in the opening match, a 12–0 victory over Pakistan.[9] She also played the 2019 AFC U-19 Women's Championship qualification, marking Nepal's first youth-level continental appearance. She scored a brace against India, helping her team advance to the next round.[10]

Senior

In 2019, she was named to the final squad for the 2019 SAFF Women's Championship.[11] She made her Senior debut on 12 March 2019, coming on as substitute in the 88th minute in a 3–0 win against Bhutan.[12] On 20 March 2019, She scored her first goal for the team in a 4–0 victory over Sri Lanka in the semifinals.[13]

Career statistics

International

As of match played on 24 October 2024

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Nepal	2019	5	1
	2022	3	0
	2023	5	1
	2024	7	9
Total		20	11

Scores and results list Nepal's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Poudel goal.

As of match played on 21 October 2024

List of international goals scored by Rekha Poudel

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	20 March 2019	Sahid Rangsala, Biratnagar, Nepal	Sri Lanka	4–0	4–0	2019 SAFF Women's Championship
2	28 September 2023	Wenzhou Sports Center Stadium, Wenzhou, China	Bangladesh	1–1	1–1	2022 Asian Games
3	20 February 2024	King Abdullah Sports City Reserve Stadium, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia	Syria	4–1	4–1	2024 WAFF Women's Championship
4	24 February 2024		Palestine	2–0	4–0
5	21 October 2024	Dasharath Rangasala, Kathmandu, Nepal	Maldives	3–0	11–0	2024 SAFF Women's Championship
6				4–0
7				5–0
8				6–0
9				9–0
10	24 October 2024		Sri Lanka	3–0	6–0
11				4–0

References

1. "النيبالية ريخا بوديل تواصل التألق على الملاعب السعودية" [Nepalese Rekha Poudel continues to shine on Saudi Arabian pitches.]. kooora.com (in Arabic). Riyan Al-Jidani. 26 August 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
2. "Biratnagar clinch women's football title". kathmandupost.com. 28 June 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2024. Biratnagar striker Rekha Paudel was declared the best player of the tournament and received Rs 25,000.
3. "Nepal International Rekha Paudel Joins Odisha FC". goalnepal.com. 17 April 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
4. "Which country has the highest representation in the IWL 2023?". thebridge.in. 17 May 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2024. The 23-year-old forward has signed with Sports Odisha for the 2023 IWL season. She had previously played for Nepal Police Club and Armed Police Force Club. She has represented Nepal in the SAFF Women's Championship and scored a goal.
5. "أبوظبي يستعين بنجمة نيبال في المعترك الآسيوي" [Abu Dhabi recruits Nepalese star for their Asian campaign.]. kooora.com (in Arabic). 5 August 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
6. "Rekha Paudel Becomes First Nepali Women Player To Score A Goal In AFC Champions League". goalnepal.com. 26 August 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
7. "Group A: Abu Dhabi defeat Al Nassr to confirm ticket". the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation. 31 August 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
8. Football, Gorkhali (6 October 2024). "Rekha Poudel's AFC Women's Champions League Debut Against Hyundai Steel Red Angels • Gorkhali Football". gorkhalifootball.com. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
9. "SAFF U18 Women's Championship: Nepal U18 Thrashes Pakistan U18". goalnepal.com. 28 September 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
10. "Nepal defeats India to keep qualification hopes alive". myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com. 27 October 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
11. "Head Coach Khadka announce 23-women squad". the-anfa.com. All Nepal Football Association. 25 January 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
12. "SAFF Women's Championship: Nepal 3–0 Bhutan match report". goalnepal.com. 12 March 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
13. "Nepal thrash Lanka 4-0 to enter SAFF championship finals". thehimalayantimes.com. 20 March 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2024.

External links

• Rekha Poudel at Soccerway
• Rekha Poudel at Global Sports Archive
• Rekha Poudel at Nepal90
• Rekha Poudel at Kooora