Recent events surrounding public comments made by coach Patrick De Wilde have cast serious doubt over his return to Nepal.

With ongoing controversies—such as not boarding the plane with the team to Nepal and a public dispute over captaincy in Uzbekistan—tensions within the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) appear to be growing.

So far, ANFA has not released any official statement regarding the matter. However, insiders suggest the federation is internally deliberating on how to resolve the escalating situation. It is likely to hold press meet shortly.

ANFA General Secretary Kiran Rai stated that De Wilde’s contract is valid for one year, and therefore, the coach is expected to return and fulfill his responsibilities. However, De Wilde has reportedly made it clear that he will not return unless there are reforms within ANFA.

The standoff has reached a point where both parties seem unwilling to work together. With De Wilde being one of the few Pro License-certified coaches Nepal has hired in recent times, his potential departure could be a significant setback for the national team.

The dispute reportedly began during the first match of the recent qualifiers. De Wilde had informed ANFA President Pankaj Bikram Nembang in writing about conflicts within the team management, especially regarding the captaincy issue. Team management led by Brinda Dewan wanted to make Renuka Nagarkote while coach seriously wanted to make Samba the captain. 

This disagreement between the coach and team officials surfaced just after the opening match and has since snowballed into a broader conflict.

Whether De Wilde will return or ANFA will seek a new coaching direction remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that internal management issues continue to plague Nepal’s football progress—at a time when stability and structure are most needed.