The 2021–22 ''Martyr's Memorial'' A-Division League ( Nepali: शहीद स्मारक ए डिभिजन लिग २०७८), also known as the Qatar Airways ''Martyr's Memorial'' A-Division League for sponsorship reasons, was the 44th edition of the

Martyr's Memorial A-Division League Martyr's Memorial A-Division League ( Nepali: शहीद स्मारक ए- डिभिजन लिग; formerly known as the Kathmandu League Championship) is the top divisions of football in Nepal. Contested by 12 to 16 clubs, it opera ...

since its establishment in 1954/55. A total of 14 teams competed in the league.

Machhindra F.C. Machhindra FC (formally known as Machhindra Bahal Club) is a Nepali professional association football, football club from the central Kathmandu, neighborhood of List of neighborhoods of Kathmandu, Keltole, playing in the Martyr's Memorial A-Divis ...

were the defending champions. Due to time constraints, instead of the league winner,

, the top team after matchday 7, will represent the league in the 2022 AFC Cup Preliminary Round 1. The league was scheduled to begin on 19 September 2021 but was pushed back to begin on 15 November 2021 after multiple participating clubs' demand to postpone the league start due to the ongoing

COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal The COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 () caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (). The first case in Nepal was confirmed on 23 January 2020 when a 31-year-old s ...

. It was finally scheduled to be played from 19 November and matches were to be only played on weekends as opposed to matches being played throughout the week as was the case during the previous seasons. On 16 February 2022, after matchday 11,

were crowned as league winners for the second consecutive time.

Teams

A total of 14 teams, all based in the Kathmandu Valley, contested the league with a relegation system. Thirteen teams from the 2019–20 season and one team promoted from the B-Division participated in the league.

Satdobato Youth Club Satdobato Youth Club (formally known as Satdobato FC) is a Nepalese professional football club from Satdobato, Lalitpur. In 2021, the club was first promoted to play in Nepali top flight, the Martyr's Memorial A-Division League. History The ...

, who debuted in the A-Division league, replaced

Saraswoti Youth Club Saraswoti Youth Club is a Nepali football club from the Koteshwor neighborhood of Kathmandu that competes in the Martyr's Memorial B-Division League. They play at the Dasarath Rangasala Stadium, which has a capacity of 25,000 spectators. League fi ...

who were relegated after five seasons in the league. Prior to the season,

Nepal Army Club Nepal Army Club, also known as Tribhuwan Army Club, is the departmental Army sporting club of Nepal and is based in Kathmandu. In cricket they play top domestic league National League Cricket, and in Prime Minister One Day Cup whereas in footb ...

reverted their name back to ''Tribhuvan Army F.C.'', a name that the team had used until the 2010 season.

Location

Personnel and kits

Foreign players

All Nepal Football Association has allowed a maximum of four foreign players including one from SAARC-affiliated country per team. For the first time one of the departmental teams,

APF Club Nepal A.P.F. Club (), commonly known as APF Club, is a sports club based in Kathmandu, Bagmati Province, Nepal. The club is the sports-wing of the Armed Police Force. History The APF Club was established on 24 October 2001, following the trad ...

signed foreign players.

Venues

The league was scheduled to be played centrally in two venues in two cities in the Kathmandu Valley. Initially, ANFA Complex was chosen to be the third venue in the Valley. Selected matches of Manang Marsyangdi Club were held in Pokhara to honour the club's origins, making it the first season with matches outside of the Kathmandu Valley. From matchday 13 onwards, ANFA Complex was reintroduced as a venue.

League table

Results

Positions by round

Season statistics

Scoring

Top goalscorers

''As of 26 February 2022''

Hat-tricks

Clean sheets

Awards

End-of-season awards

Broadcast rights

Selected matches were broadcast live on Kantipur Television. All matches were also streamed live on

Eleven Sports Eleven Sports is a multinational sports and entertainment media group. Headquartered in the United Kingdom, it is owned by Andrea Radrizzani's sports and media investment platform Aser Ventures. Eleven Sports' business model initially centred a ...

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:2021-22 Martyr's Memorial A-Division League Martyr's Memorial A-Division League seasons

Nepal Nepal (; ne, :ne:नेपाल, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne, सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in S ...

M 2021 Martyr's Memorial A-Division League, 2021