ASF players called up for Afghanistan's National Football Team
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these players will have the opportunity to represent and help Afghanistan reach the highest levels possible. One of their targets for now is to win the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup. The eight-team competition is scheduled to take place in Maldives from 19 to 30 May, 2014. The winner goes through to the main event of 2015 AFC Asia Cup to be held in Australia. Afghanistan has already qualified for 2014 AFC Challenge Cup Asia (final tournament) after they won group C of 2014 AFC Challenge Cup Qualification tournament in Laos.They swept aside Sri Lanka and Mongolia both 1-0 and drawing 1-1 against the host. Following their SAFF (South Asian Football Federation) championship triumph, Afghanistan raised their expectations level high. With quality players among their ranks, they are among the favorites to qualify for the Asian tournament, the 2015 AFC Asian Cup to be held in Australia. Afghan National Football Team will have 2 friendly matches with Tajikistan in Kabul in Afghan New year and another friendly match with India before leaving for AFC Challenge Cup in Maldives. Afghanistan will face the likes of Turkmenistan, Maldives, Philippines, Palestine and so on with the winners go through. These countries won’t be too daunting for the SAFF champions, Afghanistan, because they are in a good state morally after winning the SAFF championship and the FIFA Fair Play Award 2013 for their football development both nationally as well as domestically. Therefore, this is their best chance yet to qualify for 2015 AFC Asia Cup Australia.
