Samir Tamang is a Nepalese professional footballer who currently plays for Martyr's Memorial A-Division League club Church Boys United and the Nepal national team.

Samir Tamang
Personal information
Place of birth Nijgadh, Nepal
Position(s) Centre-forward
Team information
Current team
Church Boys United
Number 7
Youth career
0000–2024 Salesh Youth Club
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2024– Church Boys United
International career
2023– Nepal U20 11 (9)
2024– Nepal 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

edit

Born in Nijgadh, Tamang was originally a cricket player before shifting his focus to football. He initially played as a goalkeeper before a hand injury forced him to become a forward. He had not competed in any domestic league prior to his international debuts because of a lack of competitions in his region. Therefore, he competed in only district, provincial and central level selections.[1] In 2023, Tamang competed in the Aaha! Gold Cup with Salesh Youth Club. He scored two goals against Gaighat FC to advance to the semi-finals and was named Man of the Match for his performance.[2] He scored and was named the Man of the Match again as Salesh Youth Club defeated Birgunj United FC to advance to the final.[3]

In January 2024, Tamang made his Martyr's Memorial A-Division League debut after joining Church Boys United.[1] He scored his club's only goal in an Aaha! Gold Cup victory over Nepal Police which saw Church Boys United advance to the semi-final. Tamang was named Man of the Match for his performance.[4] In the next match, he again scored his team's lone tally as the club defeated Nepal Army to advance to the final. Tamang was again named Man of the Match.[5]

International career

edit

As a youth, Tamang represented Nepal at the 2023 SAFF U-19 Championship and the 2024 SAFF U-20 Championship. He scored three goals and was the competition's joint top scorer in 2023.[1] He scored two more goals in the 2024 tournament, including Nepal's only goal in a defeat to Bangladesh in the final.[6][7]

In February 2024, Tamang scored two goals for the Nepal national under-23 team in a 5–1 victory over a representative team from China's Yushu Prefecture.[8][9] Later in 2024, he was the second-highest scorer in 2025 AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualification with four goals, including a hat-trick against Chinese Taipei.[10]

Tamang received his first senior international call up in March 2024 for a pair of 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Bahrain.[11] In preparation for qualification, Nepal played an unofficial friendly against Malaysia. Tamang scored Nepal's only goal in the eventual 1–5 defeat.[12] He made his official debut on 21 March 2024 in the first match against Bahrain, coming on as a second-half substitute.[13] The following month, he was called up again for an friendly against the England C team.[14]

International statistics

edit
As of match played 21 March 2024[13]
Nepal
Year Apps Goals
2024 1 0
Total 1 0

International goals

edit

Youth

edit
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1
25 September 2023 Dasharath Rangasala, Kathmandu, Nepal   Maldives U20
2–0
4-1
2023 SAFF U-19 Championship
2
4–1
3
27 September 2023   India U20
1–1
1-1
4
22 August 2024 ANFA Complex, Lalitpur, Nepal   Bangladesh U20
1–0
2-1
2024 SAFF U-20 Championship
5
28 August 2024   India U20
1–3
1-4
6
21 September 2024 Fu Jen Catholic University Stadium, New Taipei City, Taiwan   Cambodia U20
1–2
1-4
2025 AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualification
7
23 September 2024   Chinese Taipei U20
1–0
3-1
8
2–0
9
3–1
Last updated 7 October 2024

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c Nepal, Govinda Raj. "Samir Tamang: The new energy of Nepali football". Online Khabar. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  2. ^ "Dhankuta: Sahlesh Club, Siraha Enters SFs Of 10th Gorkha Rara Gold Cup". Goal Nepal. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Sunsari: Sahalesh Youth Club Enters Final Of 9th Bhaluwa Gold Cup". Goal Nepal. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  4. ^ "Church Boys United Enters SFs Of 23rd Aha! Rara Pokhara Gold Cup". Goal Nepal. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  5. ^ "Church Boys to compete against Army in Itahari Gold Cup final on Saturday". Khabarhub. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  6. ^ "Nepal's U19 Forward Samir Tamang Receives Recognition in Nijgadh". Goal Nepal. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  7. ^ "Bangladesh wins SAFF U-20 Championship football title". Makalu Khabar. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  8. ^ "Nepali Youths Get Past Yushu Youth Team With Ease". Hamro Khelkud. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  9. ^ Samiti, Rastriya Samachar. "Nepal U-23 Team beats China's Qinghai Football Club". Nepal News. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  10. ^ "Samir Tamang Shines with 4 Goals in AFC U20 Asian Cup 2025 Qualifiers". Gorkhali Football. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  11. ^ "Nepal name squad for FIFA World Cup qualifiers". The Kathmandu Post. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  12. ^ "Nepal Loses To Malaysia In A Friendly Match". Goal Nepal. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  13. ^ a b "NFT profile". National Football Teams. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  14. ^ "Initial squad for England C team friendly announced". All Nepal Football Association. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
edit