KATHMANDU: Nepal secured a historic 1-0 victory against Singapore in an international friendly at the Singapore National Stadium on Friday. Jillespie Jung Karki scored the only goal in the 12th minute, converting a cross from Manish Dangi, marking Nepal’s first-ever goal against Singapore.

This was Nepal and Singapore’s first encounter since 1989, when Singapore had dominated with a 7-0 victory. Prior to that, Nepal had suffered 2-0 and 3-0 defeats in 1982 and 1989. The previous matches were part of the World Cup Qualifiers and King’s Cup, but this time, Nepal triumphed over a team ranked 160th in FIFA rankings, 15 places higher than Nepal.

The win gives Nepal momentum as they prepare for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers. Their next match is against Malaysia on March 25.

This victory is a significant milestone, breaking a decades-long losing streak against Singapore. Despite facing pressure, Nepal held onto their lead, with goalkeeper Kiran Chemjong making crucial saves. Coach Matthäus Roos, in his debut match, led Nepal to an impressive start, giving fans hope for a strong performance in upcoming qualifiers.