Afghanistan in SAFF Championship 2013

Afghaninstan SAFF 2013 Champions

SAFF Championship 2013: Afghanistan 2 - 0 India - Championship 

Kathmandu: Afghanistan clinched maiden South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship title by beating India 2-0 in the final played at the Dashrath Stadium on Wednesday. Mustafa Azadzoy and Sandjar Ahmadi were on the scoresheet as the Afghans comfortably outwitted the six-time champions India who were playing to defend their title won in 2011. Afghan coach Yousuf Kargar was delighted with the brilliant performance of his team throughout the competition and warned South Asian giants India saying the triumph heralded the new chapter of Afghan football in the region. “Until Afghanistan will be in this region, India cannot rule now,” he was quoted by The Himalayan Times. “We claimed the historical trophy in a style. It was a good revenge for us because we defeated a team that was mentored by a foreign coach and had many quality players. It is probably the greatest achievement for Afghanistan football and the whole nation,” added the Afghan coach. Azadzoy tapped in from the six-yard after unselfish Belal Arezo released an ideal ball off Mustafa Hadid cross in the 9th minute. As India took an offensive approach, Ahmadi chipped above Indian goalie Subrata Paul after the goalie’s clearance off a powerful strike from Belal landed in front of him in the 62nd minute to ensure the historical win. With the win, the Afghans also pursed USD 50,000 as cash prize while the Indians got USD 25,000. Mansur Fagiryar of the winning side was adjudged most valuable player of the tournament while Ali Ashfaq of the Maldives was topscorer with 10 goals. Hosts Nepal were adjudged ‘Fair Play’ team. Afghanistan are one of the qualified teams from South Asia alongside with hosts Maldives who will be featuring in the finals of AFC Challenge Cup 2014. The winner of the AFC Challenge Cup 2014 will book a ticket to the Asia’s premier national team competition AFC Asian Cup 2015 to be held in Australia.

SAFF Championship 2013: Afghanistan 1 - 0 Nepal - Semifinals

KATHMANDU: Afghanistan beat hosts Nepal by a solitary goal to enter the summit clash of the SAFF Football Championship on Sunday. In a highly entertaining first semifinal, the home team played their hearts out, but Sanjar Ahmadi did what mattered the most - scored the winner in the 10th minute of the match to set up. Afghanistan will meet the winner of the second semifinal  India on Sunday. 

SAFF Championship 2013: Bhutan 0-3 Afghanistan

Kathmandu: AFC Challenge Cup 2014 participating Afghanistan started their South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship 2013 campaign promisingly by beating Bhutan 3-0 in their opening match in Group B on Monday.The Maldives, who trounced Sri Lanka 10-0, top Group B followed by Afghanistan as both sides are taking the regional tournament as an opportunity to prepare for next year’s AFC Challenge Cup finals to be held in the Maldives. The winners of the AFC Challenge Cup qualify for the finals of the AFC Asian Cup 2015. Haroon Fakruddin broke the deadlock in the 37th minute while a goal each from Mustafa Azadzoy and Hashmatullah Barakzai respectively in the 76th and 88th minutes sealed a comfortable win for the previous edition’s runners up. Afghanistan next play Sri Lanka while Bhutan face in-form Maldives in Group B on Wednesday. 

SAFF Championship 2013: Sri Lanka 1-3 Afghanistan

Kathmandu: Afghanistan scored three second-half goals to enter the semi-finals of the ongoing South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship as they came from behind to defeat Sri Lanka 3-1 at the Halchowk Stadium on Wednesday. The Lankans looked a far better side than the one which shipped in 10 goals against the Maldives as Mohamed Fazaluzzaman put the Sri Lankans ahead in the 36th minute.  The Afghans came aggressively in the second half and were duly rewarded with goals. Mohammed Rafi opened Afghanistan's account in the 62nd minute and Haroon Fakhruddin made it 2-1 in the 76th minute which was followed by Afghanistan’s third goal in the 87th minute from Hashmatullah Barakzai. Afghanistan will take on the Maldives in an all AFC Challenge Cup 2014 participating team’s tie on Friday to decide the Group B winners after the Maldives hammered Bhutan 8-2 to ensure their place in the last four of the competition.

SAFF Championship 2013: Maldives 0-0 Afghanistan

Kathmandu: The match between the Maldives and Afghanistan to decide Group B winner ended in a dour goalless draw as free scoring Maldives topped Group on goal difference and set up a semi-final dates with defending champions India in the ongoing South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship 2013. In the match played at the Dashrath Stadium, both the sides started with equal six points having been qualified for the semi-finals with a match to spare. As both of them failed to score, Maldives comfortably occupied the pole position after scoring massive 18 goals in their previous two matches. The Group B runners-up Afghanistan will face hosts Nepal on Sunday in the first semi-final while the Maldives’ tie against India will take place on Monday. The Maldives and Afghanistan are the two South Asian sides who will be participating in the AFC Challenge Cup 2014 to be held in the Maldives. The winner of the AFC Challenge Cup 2014 will get an automatic entry to the AFC Asian Cup 2015 in Australia.