East Bengal FC Clinch Historic SAFF Women’s Club Championship with Dominant Final Win

East Bengal FC were crowned champions of the inaugural edition of the SAFF Women's Club Championship 2025 with a dominant 3-0 win over hosts APF FC in the final at the Dasrath Stadium here in Nepal on Saturday.

Ugandan striker and two-time IWL top-scorer Fazila Ikwaput scored a brace, while India international Shilky Devi Hemam netted once to complete a perfect campaign for the Moshal Girls.

Anthony Andrews' side scored 14 goals and conceded none in their five matches during the tournament. East Bengal became the first Indian women's club to win an international tournament.

They brushed aside Transport United FC of Bhutan 4-0 (December 8), Karachi City FC of Pakistan 2-0 (December 11) and Nasrin Sports Academy of Bangladesh 7-0 (December 14) before being held to a 0-0 draw by APF FC of Nepal in the last match of the group stage (December 17).

In the rematch, however, the home side were no match for the reigning IWL champions, who found their rhythm from the start, scoring twice in the first half and again just moments into the second half, before putting on a strong defensive display towards the end of the game to see off

the clean sheet.

Fazila Ikwaput opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with a well-taken half-volley after getting on the end of a long ball. Shilky Devi Hemam made it two in the 35th, planting a solid header that looped into the top corner. Ashalata Devi Loitongbam had set her up with an inch-perfect cross from the right.

Just 16 seconds after the referee blew the whistle to start the second half, Fazila scored her second and East Bengal's third to put the game to bed and seal the title. The Ugandan struck a low shot from outside the box that crept through the palms of goalkeeper Anjana Rana Magar and trickled past the goal-line.

East Bengal will now turn their attention to defending their IWL title as they take on Sethu FC in their first match of the 2025-26 season on December 24 in Kalyani.