Martyr's Memorial A-Division League
Top division men's association football league in Nepal
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Martyr's Memorial A-Division League, (Nepali: शहीद स्मारक ए- डिभिजन लिग; formerly known as the Kathmandu League Championship), also known as the Qatar Airways Martyr's Memorial A-Division League for sponsorship reasons, is a professional football league in Nepal and the highest level of football in Nepal.
| |
| Organising body | ANFA |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1954 |
| Country | Nepal |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Number of clubs | 14 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | Martyr's Memorial B-Division League |
| International cup(s) | AFC Challenge League SAFF Club Championship |
| Current champions | Church Boys United (1st title) (2023) |
| Most championships | Manang Marsyangdi (8 titles) |
| Top scorer | Santosh Sahukhala (104 goals) |
| Broadcaster(s) | Space 4K Television (YouTube) |
| Website | www |
| Current: 2025–26 A Division League | |
Administered and organized by All Nepal Football Association, it is contested by 14 teams. It operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Martyr's Memorial B-Division League. The season usually runs from November to March with each team playing every other team twice.
A new Nepal National League was created in 2011 to give a chance to the clubs outside Kathmandu valley to compete at A level tournaments. Out of the 9 clubs competing in the National League, five are teams of Martyr's Memorial A-Division League.[1][2]
The league champion for the season is granted qualification into the Asian continental club competition, the AFC Challenge League.
Clubs
The following 14 teams with two teams promoted from the B-Division,[3] will compete in the next iteration of Martyr's Memorial A-Division League.
| Current clubs | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | City | Province | Founded | Previous Season | |||||
| APF FC | Kathmandu (Halchowk) | Bagmati | 2001 | 12th | |||||
| Church Boys United | Lalitpur (Balkumari) | Bagmati | 2009 | 1st | |||||
| Friends Club | Lalitpur (Kupondole) | Bagmati | 1972 | 11th | |||||
| Himalayan Sherpa Club | Kathmandu (Hattigauda) | Bagmati | 2006 | 10th | |||||
| Jawalakhel YC | Lalitpur (Jawalakhel) | Bagmati | 1972 | 4th | |||||
| Machhindra FC | Kathmandu (Jana Bahal) | Bagmati | 1973 | 2nd | |||||
| Manang Marshyangdi Club | Pokhara | Gandaki | 1982 | 8th | |||||
| Nepal Army F.C. | Kathmandu (Bhadrakali) | Bagmati | 1951 | 7th | |||||
| Nepal Police F.C. | Kathmandu (Maharajgunj) | Bagmati | 1952 | 3rd | |||||
| New Road Team | Kathmandu (New Road) | Bagmati | 1934 | 6th | |||||
| Planning Boyz United | Budhanilkantha (Kapan) | Bagmati | 2012 | 1st (B-Division) | |||||
| Sankata FC | Kathmandu (Te Bahal) | Bagmati | 1950 | 9th | |||||
| Satdobato Youth Club | Lalitpur (Satdobato) | Bagmati | 1998 | 5th | |||||
| Shree Bhagwati Club | Tokha | Bagmati | 1990 | 2nd (B-Division) | |||||
Champions
Since the start of the league, 17 clubs have won the title in 45 tournaments. Manang Marshyangdi Club have the most (8 titles) under their belt. Church Boys United are the current champions.[4]
| S.N. | Season | B.S. | Winner | Top scorer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1954–55 | 2011 | Mahabir Club | |
| 2 | 1955–56 | 2012 | Police Force | |
| 3 | 1956–57 | 2013 | Police Force (2) | |
| 4 | 1957–58 | 2014 | Army XI | |
| 1958–60 | 2015–16 | League not held | ||
| 5 | 1960–61 | 2017 | New Road Team | |
| 6 | 1962–63 | 2019 | New Road Team (2) | |
| 7 | 1963–64 | 2020 | Bidya Byama | |
| 1964–66 | 2021–22 | League not held | ||
| 8 | 1966–67 | 2023 | Mahabir Club (2) | |
| 9 | 1967–68 | 2024 | Friends Union | |
| 10 | 1968–69 | 2025 | Deurali Club | |
| 11 | 1969–70 | 2026 | Mahabir Club (3) | |
| 12 | 1970–71 | 2027 | Deurali Club (2) | |
| 13 | 1971–72 | 2028 | Ranipokhari Corner Team | |
| 14 | 1972–73 | 2029 | Ranipokhari Corner Team (2) | |
| 15 | 1973–74 | 2030 | Ranipokhari Corner Team (3) | |
| 16 | 1975 | 2032 | Boys Union Club | |
| 17 | 1976 | 2033 | Sunakhari Athletic Club | |
| 18 | 1977 | 2034 | Annapurna Club | |
| 19 | 1978 | 2035 | New Road Team (3) | |
| 20 | 1979 | 2036 | Ranipokhari Corner Team (4) | |
| 21 | 1980 | 2037 | Sankata Boys Club | |
| 22 | 1981–82 | 2038 | Ranipokhari Corner Team (5) | |
| 23 | 1982 | 2039 | Annapurna Club (2) | |
| 24 | 1983 | 2040 | Sankata Boys Club (2) | |
| 25 | 1984 | 2041 | Ranipokhari Corner Team (6) | |
| 26 | 1985 | 2042 | Sankata Boys Club (3) | |
| 27 | 1986 | 2042–43 | Manang Marsyangdi Club | |
| 28 | 1987 | 2043–44 | Manang Marsyangdi Club (2) | |
| 1988 | 2045 | League not held | ||
| 29 | 1989 | 2046 | Manang Marsyangdi Club (3) | |
| 1990–1994 | 2047–51 | League not held | ||
| 30 | 1995 | 2052 | New Road Team (4) | |
| 1996 | 2053 | League not held | ||
| 31 | 1997 | 2054 | Three Star Club | |
| 32 | 1998 | 2055 | Three Star Club (2) | |
| 1999 | 2056 | League not held | ||
| 33 | 2000 | 2057 | Manang Marsyangdi Club (4) |  Nirajan Rayamajhi(15 goals) |
| 2001–02 | 2058–59 | League not held | ||
| 34 | 2003–04 | 2060 | Manang Marsyangdi Club (5) | Surendra Tamang (15 goals) |
| 35 | 2004 | 2061 | Three Star Club (3) | Basanta Thapa (20 goals) |
| 36 | 2005–06 | 2062 | Manang Marsyangdi Club (6) |  Junior Obagbemiro Rishi Rai(27 goals) |
| 37 | 2006–07 | 2063 | Mahendra Police Club (3) | Anil Gurung (31 goals) |
| 2007–09 | 2064–66 | League not held due to conflicts between ANFA and the clubs[5] | ||
| 38 | 2010 | 2066–67 | Nepal Police F.C. (4) | Santosh Sahukhala (19 goals) |
| 39 | 2011 | 2068 | Nepal Police F.C. (5) | Ju Manu Rai (21 goals) |
| 2011–12 | 2068 | Nepal National League was held instead | ||
| 40 | 2012–13 | 2069 | Three Star Club (4) | Santosh Sahukhala (17 goals) |
| 41 | 2013–14 | 2070 | Manang Marsyangdi Club (7) | Karna Limbu (11 goals) |
| 2014–15 | 2071 | Nepal National League was held instead | ||
| 2015–18 | 2072–74 | League not held due to aftermath of the 2015 Nepal earthquake | ||
| 42 | 2018–19 | 2075 | Manang Marsyangdi Club (8) | Afeez Olawale Oladipo Bharat Khawas Ranjit Dhimal (7 goals) |
| 43 | 2019–20 | 2076 | Machhindra Football Club | Aashish Lama (9 goals) |
| 2020–21 | 2077 | League not held due to COVID-19 pandemic | ||
| 44 | 2021–22 | 2078 | Machhindra Football Club (2) |  Jomoul Francois[a] Messouke Oloumou(7 goals) |
| 45 | 2023 | 2079 | Church Boys United | Afeez Olawale Oladipo (23 goals) |
| 2023–24 | 2080 | League not held | ||
| 2024–25 | 2081 | League not held | ||
| 46 | 2025–26 | 2082 | TBD | TBD |
Championships by team
| Club | Winners | Winning seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Manang Marshyangdi Club | 8 | 1986, 1987, 1989, 2000, 2003, 2005–06, 2013–14, 2018–19 |
| Ranipokhari Corner Team | 6 | 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1979, 1981–82, 1984 |
| Nepal Police F.C.[b] | 5 | 1955–56, 1956–57, 2006–07, 2010, 2011 |
| New Road Team | 4 | 1960–61, 1962–63, 1978, 1995 |
| Three Star Club | 1997, 1998, 2004, 2012–13 | |
| Mahabir Club | 3 | 1954–55, 1966–67, 1969–70 |
| Sankata Boys Club | 1980, 1983, 1985 | |
| Annapurna Club | 2 | 1977, 1982 |
| Deurali Club | 1968–69, 1970–71 | |
| Machhindra Football Club | 2019–20, 2020–21 | |
| Nepal Army F.C.[c] | 1 | 1957–58 |
| Bidya Byama | 1963–64 | |
| Boys Union Club | 1975 | |
| Friends Union | 1967–68 | |
| Sunakhari Athletic Club | 1976 | |
| Church Boys United | 2023 |
A-Division teams in Asia
Martyr's Memorial A-Division teams participated in the AFC President's Cup from its foundation in 2005 till its dissolution in 2014. Since 2015, the winners of the Martyr's Memorial A-Division League qualify for the AFC Cup. A-Division teams could also qualify for the Asian Club Championship before 2004.[citation needed]
AFC Challenge League
| Season | AFC Cup | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2024–25 | Church Boys United | Preliminary Round |
| 2025–26 | N/a | N/a |
AFC Cup
| Season | AFC Cup | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Manang Marshyangdi Club | DNP |
| 2019 | Manang Marshyangdi Club | 4th in Group Stage |
| 2021 | Nepal Army F.C. | Preliminary round 2 |
| 2022 | Machhindra F.C. | Preliminary round 1 |
| 2023–24[7] | Machhindra F.C. | Preliminary round 2 |
AFC President's Cup
| Season | Team | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Three Star Club | Semi-Final |
| 2006 | Manang Marshyangdi Club | 3rd in Group Stage |
| 2007 | Mahendra Police Club | Runner-up |
| 2008 | Nepal Police F.C. | Semi-Final |
| 2009 | Nepal Police F.C. | 4th in Group Stage |
| 2010 | New Road Team | 3rd in Group Stage |
| 2011 | Nepal Police F.C. | 4th in Group Stage |
| 2013 | Three Star Club | 3rd in Final Stage |
| 2014 | Manang Marshyangdi Club | 2nd in Final Stage |
Asian Club Championship
| Season | AFC Cup | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1985–86 | New Road Team | 5th in Qualifiers |
| 1987 | Manang Marshyangdi Club | 4th in Qualifiers |
| 1990–91 | Ranipokhari Corner Team | 3rd in Qualifiers |
| 1996–97 | New Road Team | First Round |
| 1997–98 | Mahendra Police Club | First Round |
| 1998–99 | Three Star Club | First Round |
Notes
- Despite Jomoul Francois and Messouke Oloumou both scoring 7 goals each, ANFA awarded the title of top goalscorer to Jamoul Francois, as he scored the goals in less time.[6]
- Formerly known as Mahendra Police Club. Championships for Police Force in 1955–56 and 1956–57 also included[citation needed]
- Championship for Army XI in 1957–58 also included