# Sabitra Bhandari

Sabitra Bhandari (Nepali: साबित्रा भण्डारी), popularly known as Samba, is a Nepalese professional football player who plays as a forward for Première Ligue club En Avant Guingamp and Nepal women's national team.
She is the all-time highest goal scorer in Nepalese football history and broke record as the highest woman goal scorer in South Asia with 53 goals. She made history by being the first Nepalese player to play and score in European league.

## Career

At club level, Bhandari plays for APF Club. Bhandari made the Nepal team for the 2014 South Asian Football Federation Championship and made her international debut against Bhutan, coming off the bench and sealing an 8–0 victory as a 17-year-old. In February 2017 she was invited to play the Maldives women's league.
She became the highest scoring women striker of south Asia at the age of 20.

### Sethu FC

She joined Indian Women's League side Sethu FC for the 2018-19 Indian Women's League season. In her debut match she scored 4 goals for the club against Manipur Police Sports Club on 6 May 2019. She was also awarded with women of the match in her first match with Sethu FC.
She scored almost two goals a game during her time in India, leading Sethu FC to winning Indian Women’s League title.

### Gokulam Kerala FC

Bhandari joined Gokulam Kerala FC for the 2019–2020 season, and eventually won the League championship title and was the league top scorer with 16 goals.
After joining Gokulam Kerala FC again for the 2023 season, she continued her phenomenal prolificacy, managing league top scorer 31 goals, including five hat-tricks, to fire her club to league glory.
This lead her to lifting her third Indian Women’s League trophy.

### Hapoel Ra'anana

In June 2023, Bhandari joined Israeli club Hapoel Ra'anana with the announcement receiving over 800 comments and thousands of views while the Israeli embassy in Kathmandu invited her to congratulate her personally. Bhandari made her club debut in August, playing in a cup match against Maccabi Kishronot Hadera, scoring a 90th minute goal in a 2–0 win. She opened the 2024–25 Ligat Nashim season well, scoring all 4 goals in a 4–0 victory over Ramat HaSharon. She also scored in her second match, a 1–1 draw against Hapoel Petah Tikva. Afterwards she scored an injury time equaliser against last season's runner-up Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem. Following the 7 October attack, Bhandari's spell was cut short after scoring six goals in four league games as well as one goal in three cup matches.

### En Avant Guingamp

She made her debut on Feb 3rd, 2024 coming as a substitute on 78th minute. She is the first Nepalese player to play and score in European league.

## International career

Bhandari represents Nepal at the international level. She participated in and even scored a goal against Bhutan at the 2014 SAFF Women's Championship. She represented the country during the 2016 South Asian Games where she scored two goals against Sri Lanka. She scored the only goal in a friendly victory against Malaysia on 17 December 2016.
Bhandari then played in Nepal's first match of the 2016 SAFF Women's Championship against Bhutan. She scored six goals as Nepal won 8–0 to open the tournament and scored 5 goals against Maldives in the 2nd group match.

## Career statistics
### Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Sethu FC | 2018–19 | Indian Women's League | 7 | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 15 |
| Sethu FC | Total | Total | 7 | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 15 |
| Gokulam Kerala | 2019–20 | Indian Women's League | 7 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 16 |
| Gokulam Kerala | 2022–23 | Indian Women's League | 10 | 29 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 29 |
| Gokulam Kerala | Total | Total | 17 | 45 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17 | 45 |
| Hapoel Ra'anana | 2023–24 | Liga Alef North | 2 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 5 |
| Hapoel Ra'anana | Total | Total | 2 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 5 |
| En Avant Guingamp | 2023–24 | Première Ligue | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 1 |
| En Avant Guingamp | 2024–25 | Première Ligue | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 1 |
| En Avant Guingamp | Total | Total | 9 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 2 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 35 | 67 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 35 | 67 |

### International

Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Nepal | 2014 | - | 1 |
| Nepal | 2015 | - | 1 |
| Nepal | 2016 | - | 13 |
| Nepal | 2017 | - | 1 |
| Nepal | 2018 | - | 1 |
| Nepal | 2019 | - | 18 |
| Nepal | 2020 | - | 0 |
| Nepal | 2021 | - | 0 |
| Nepal | 2022 | - | 2 |
| Nepal | 2023 | - | 4 |
| Nepal | 2024 | - | 11 |
| Total | Total | 50 | 51 |

### International goals

| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1. | 12 November 2014 | Jinnah Sports Stadium, Islamabad, Pakistan | Bhutan | 8–0 | 8–0 | 2014 SAFF Women's Championship |
| 2. | 13 February 2016 | Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Shillong, India | Sri Lanka | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2016 South Asian Games |
| 3. | 13 February 2016 | Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Shillong, India | Sri Lanka | 3–0 | 4–0 | 2016 South Asian Games |
| 4. | 26 December 2016 | Kanchenjunga Stadium, Siliguri, India | Bhutan | 1–0 | 8–0 | 2016 SAFF Women's Championship |
| 5. | 26 December 2016 | Kanchenjunga Stadium, Siliguri, India | Bhutan | 2–0 | 8–0 | 2016 SAFF Women's Championship |
| 6. | 26 December 2016 | Kanchenjunga Stadium, Siliguri, India | Bhutan | 3–0 | 8–0 | 2016 SAFF Women's Championship |
| 7. | 26 December 2016 | Kanchenjunga Stadium, Siliguri, India | Bhutan | 5–0 | 8–0 | 2016 SAFF Women's Championship |
| 8. | 26 December 2016 | Kanchenjunga Stadium, Siliguri, India | Bhutan | 6–0 | 8–0 | 2016 SAFF Women's Championship |
| 9. | 26 December 2016 | Kanchenjunga Stadium, Siliguri, India | Bhutan | 7–0 | 8–0 | 2016 SAFF Women's Championship |
| 10. | 28 December 2016 | Kanchenjunga Stadium, Siliguri, India | Maldives | 1–0 | 9–0 | 2016 SAFF Women's Championship |
| 11. | 28 December 2016 | Kanchenjunga Stadium, Siliguri, India | Maldives | 2–0 | 9–0 | 2016 SAFF Women's Championship |
| 12. | 28 December 2016 | Kanchenjunga Stadium, Siliguri, India | Maldives | 3–0 | 9–0 | 2016 SAFF Women's Championship |
| 13. | 28 December 2016 | Kanchenjunga Stadium, Siliguri, India | Maldives | 4–0 | 9–0 | 2016 SAFF Women's Championship |
| 14. | 28 December 2016 | Kanchenjunga Stadium, Siliguri, India | Maldives | 6–0 | 9–0 | 2016 SAFF Women's Championship |
| 15. | 2 January 2017 | Kanchenjunga Stadium, Siliguri, India | India | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2016 SAFF Women's Championship |
| 16. | 11 November 2018 | Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon, Myanmar | Myanmar | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2020 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament |
| 17. | 11 February 2019 | Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar, India | India | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2019 Women's Gold Cup |
| 18. | 11 February 2019 | Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar, India | India | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2019 Women's Gold Cup |
| 19. | 13 February 2019 | Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar, India | Iran | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2019 Women's Gold Cup |
| 20. | 13 February 2019 | Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar, India | Iran | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2019 Women's Gold Cup |
| 21. | 9 April 2019 | Bahtoo Stadium, Mandalay, Myanmar | Indonesia | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2020 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament |
| 22. | 9 April 2019 | Bahtoo Stadium, Mandalay, Myanmar | Indonesia | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2020 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament |
| 23. | 12 March 2019 | Sahid Rangsala, Biratnagar, Nepal | Bhutan | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2019 SAFF Women's Championship |
| 24. | 16 March 2019 | Sahid Rangsala, Biratnagar, Nepal | Bangladesh | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2019 SAFF Women's Championship |
| 25. | 20 March 2019 | Sahid Rangsala, Biratnagar, Nepal | Sri Lanka | 3–0 | 4–0 | 2019 SAFF Women's Championship |
| 26. | 22 March 2019 | Sahid Rangsala, Biratnagar, Nepal | India | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2019 SAFF Women's Championship |
| 27. | 8 September 2019 | Central Stadium Karakol, Kyrgyzstan | Kyrgyzstan | 1–0 | 8–2 | Friendly |
| 28. | 8 September 2019 | Central Stadium Karakol, Kyrgyzstan | Kyrgyzstan | 2–0 | 8–2 | Friendly |
| 29. | 8 September 2019 | Central Stadium Karakol, Kyrgyzstan | Kyrgyzstan | 6–2 | 8–2 | Friendly |
| 30. | 8 September 2019 | Central Stadium Karakol, Kyrgyzstan | Kyrgyzstan | 7–2 | 8–2 | Friendly |
| 31. | 10 September 2019 | Central Stadium Karakol, Kyrgyzstan | Tajikistan | 1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
| 32. | 5 December 2019 | Pokhara Rangasala, Pokhara, Nepal | Maldives | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2019 South Asian Games |
| 33. | 5 December 2019 | Pokhara Rangasala, Pokhara, Nepal | Maldives | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2019 South Asian Games |
| 34. | 5 December 2019 | Pokhara Rangasala, Pokhara, Nepal | Maldives | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2019 South Asian Games |
| 35. | 6 September 2022 | Dasharath Rangasala, Kathmandu, Nepal | Bhutan | 1–0 | 4–0 | 2022 SAFF Women's Championship |
| 36. | 6 September 2022 | Dasharath Rangasala, Kathmandu, Nepal | Bhutan | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2022 SAFF Women's Championship |
| 37. | 16 February 2023 | Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, Chennai, India | India | 1–2 | 2–2 | Friendly |
| 38. | 16 February 2023 | Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, Chennai, India | India | 2–2 | 2–2 | Friendly |
| 39. | 5 April 2023 | Dasarath Rangasala, Kathmandu, Nepal | Vietnam | 1–4 | 1–5 | 2024 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament |
| 40. | 13 July 2023 | Bir Sherestha Shaheed Shipahi Mostafa Kamal Stadium, Dhaka, Bangladesh | Bangladesh | 1–1 | 1–1 | Friendly |
| 41. | 20 February 2024 | King Abdullah Sports City Reserve Stadium, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | Syria | 1–0 | 4–1 | 2024 WAFF Women's Championship |
| 42. | 22 February 2024 | King Abdullah Sports City Reserve Stadium, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | Iraq | 1–0 | 5–0 | 2024 WAFF Women's Championship |
| 43. | 22 February 2024 | King Abdullah Sports City Reserve Stadium, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | Iraq | 2–0 | 5–0 | 2024 WAFF Women's Championship |
| 44. | 22 February 2024 | King Abdullah Sports City Reserve Stadium, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | Iraq | 3–0 | 5–0 | 2024 WAFF Women's Championship |
| 45. | 22 February 2024 | King Abdullah Sports City Reserve Stadium, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | Iraq | 4–0 | 5–0 | 2024 WAFF Women's Championship |
| 46. | 22 February 2024 | King Abdullah Sports City Reserve Stadium, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | Iraq | 5–0 | 5–0 | 2024 WAFF Women's Championship |
| 47. | 24 February 2024 | King Abdullah Sports City Reserve Stadium, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | Palestine | 1–0 | 4–0 | 2024 WAFF Women's Championship |
| 48. | 24 February 2024 | King Abdullah Sports City Reserve Stadium, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | Palestine | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2024 WAFF Women's Championship |
| 49. | 27 February 2024 | Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | Lebanon | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2024 WAFF Women's Championship |
| 50. | 24 October 2024 | Dasharath Rangasala, Kathmandu, Nepal | Sri Lanka | 2–0 | 6–0 | 2024 SAFF Women's Championship |
| 51. | 27 October 2024 | Dasharath Rangasala, Kathmandu, Nepal | India | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2024 SAFF Women's Championship |
| 52. | 20 February 2025 | Dasharath Rangasala, Kathmandu, Nepal | Lebanon | 0–1 | 0–1 | 2025 Vianet Championship |
| 53. | 23 February 2025 | Dasharath Rangasala, Kathmandu, Nepal | Myanmar | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2025 Vianet Championship |

## Honours

Sethu FC
* Indian Women's League: 2018–19
Gokulam Kerala
* Indian Women's League: 2019–20, 2022–23
Individual
* Indian Women's League Top Scorer: 2019–20, 2022–23
* Top Goal Scorer of 2016 SAFF Women's Championship,
* Best Player of Pradhansenapati International women's football tournament 2013,
* Seventh National Game Of Nepal 2013 women's football top goal scorer,
* 2019 Pulsar Sports Award woman's Player Of The year.