Anjan Bista (; born 15 May 1998) is a Nepalese professional footballer who plays as a forward for New Road Team and the Nepal national team.
During the 12th edition of the Aaha Rara Gold cup, playing for the ANFA Academy Bista scored the opening goal in the 17th minute to put his team 1âÂÂ0 up against Nepal Police Club in Pokhara. However Ranjan Bista scored the equalizer in the 35th minute and the Police Club went on to win on a penalty shootout.
Bista joined Nepal APF for the upcoming 2015 Nepal National League. He scored his first goal for the club in the second round in a 4âÂÂ1 win over Morang XI. Anjan's brother Ranjan Bista scored two goals in the same match.
On 28 March 2016, Bista scored the only goal to defeat Nijmegen Eendracht Combinatie U-19 Academy 1âÂÂ0. Anjan Bista showed brilliant performance during a match against ASC 09 Dortmund.
In 2018, Anjan joined Manang Marshyangdi Club. In his first season, he scored five goals in the Pulsar Martyrs Memorial A Division League as the team won a record 8th league title. He was a member of the team that took part in the AFC Cup 2019 group stage.
In the 2019âÂÂ20 Qatar Airways Memorial A Division League, Bista scored 6 goals in 8 appearances as the team finished third.
On December 28, 2013, Church Boys United announced the signing of Anjan Bista in a one-year deal.
On 21 January 2023, it was announced that Bista was sent on loan for remaining matches to Indian I-League club Mumbai Kenkre, as Mumbai Kenkre FC was in verge of getting relegated.
On 26 February 2023, Jhapa FC, one of the three new teams of the franchise-based Nepal Super League football tournament, recruited winger Anjan Bista as their marquee player for the second edition of Nepal Super League.
On 8 March 2024, it was told that Bista joined Bangladesh Premier League club Fortis. However, he was sidelined for a couple of weeks when playing for Nepal in 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification â AFC second round. Eventually, the Bangladeshi club terminated his contract as he was set to miss most of the remaining matches of that season.
In 2025, he joined Brothers Union for the 2025âÂÂ26 Bangladesh Football League.
During the 2014 AFC U-16 Championship qualification Bista scored in a 2âÂÂ0 victory over Bahrain, ending a six-year-long winning drought for the Nepali u-17 side. In the next game Bista scored the equalizing goal as Nepal came from 2âÂÂ0 down to tie Iraq 2âÂÂ2. Playing in the 2014 AFC U-16 Championship Bista started as Nepal scored a late equalizer to tie the match 1âÂÂ1 against defending champions Uzbekistan. Bista was excellent in the next game against Kuwait, it was his early pressure that forced an own goal in the third minute, as well as it was Bista who was fouled in the box for the captain Bimal Magar to score the winning penalty.
In preparation for the 2015 SAFF U-19 Championship and the 2016 AFC U-19 Championship qualification campaign, Bista played in several friendlies in which he scored a hat trick against a senior Nepal Army Club earning a 4âÂÂ2 victory. On the second match of the 2015 SAFF U-19 Championship, Bista converted a crucial penalty kick against Bangladesh. To which, the match was won 2:1. In the same tournament, Bista also scored a brace against Afghanistan in the semi-finals to register a 3:2 victory for Nepal sending the team into the finals. Nepal went on to win the final defeating India on penalty kicks.
Bista made his international debut for Nepal on 31 October 2014 coming on for Sandip Rai in the 61st minute in an eventual 3âÂÂ0 loss against the Philippines.
On 6 March 2015, Bista was selected for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC) 2-legged match against India. He was also one of the main players when Nepal won the Bangabandhu Gold Cup in Bangladesh and the gold medal in SAG Games. He scored 2 goals during the Gold winning run in the 2016 SAG Games - one against Bhutan and one against Maldives in the semi-final. Bista has since been a prominent member of the Nepal senior team.
Bista scored his first international goals on 10 September 2019 in 2âÂÂ0 victory against Chinese Taipei in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification in Taipei. Bista performed well against Australia earning praise from the commentator Andy Harper and Simon Hill from Fox Sports.
After the 2014 AFC U-16 Championship it was announced that Bista had plans to turn to singing. Soon after a video of Bista singing popular a Dashain song was released. "This is a new taste for [me]. I really enjoy singing." said Bista afterwards thanking Kaarlrekha productions.
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