'A dream come true': 1st Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles score late goal to win Nepal Cup
The 1st Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles have won the 2026 Nepal Cup with a 1-0 win over the Queen's Gurkha Signals Regiment after a dramatic late goal in the 84th minute.
Both teams were drawn level at 0-0 for the majority of the match – as neither side struggled to create the numbers of chances needed to put themselves in the position to get shots on target and put points on the board.
But a last-gasp goal from midfielder Rifleman Dip Raj Limbu late into the second half was the defining moment that gave the 1st Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles the Nepal Cup win.
The result was a disappointing one for the Queen's Gurkha Signals Regiment who were chasing their third-consecutive Nepal Cup win – but fell on the wrong side of the scoresheet in 2026.
Assistant coach for 1st Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles, Corporal Safal Gurung, told BFBS Sport that his team's victory is a "dream come true".
He said: "I think this is the biggest thing to happen in my career as I started playing for the Nepal Cup since 2019.
"I lost the first year final with the Signals, I lost my second finals in 2024 and this was my third final.
"I didn't want to make it three times [a loss] and finally the boys made my dream come true as an assistant coach to win this cup."
Join Our Newsletter
