Afghanistan national football team

Afghanistan

Nickname(s)	Lions of Afghanistan
Association	Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF)
Sub-confederation	SAFF (South Asia)
Confederation	AFC (Asia)
Head coach	Mohammad Yousef Kargar
Asst coach	Elyas Ahmad Manucher
Captain	Djelaludin Sharityar
Most caps	Kohistani & Amiri (31)
Top scorer	Balal Arezou (9)
Home stadium	Ghazi Stadium
FIFA ranking	140
Highest FIFA ranking	139 (April 2013)
Lowest FIFA ranking	204 (January 2003)
Elo ranking	188
Highest Elo ranking	187 (2 March 2013)
Lowest Elo ranking	207 (17 November 2010)
First colours Second colours
First international
Afghanistan 0–0 Iran (Kabul, Afghanistan; 25 August 1941)
Biggest win
Bhutan 1–8 Afghanistan (New Delhi, India; 7 December 2011)
Biggest defeat
Turkmenistan 11–0 Afghanistan (Ashgabat, Turkmenistan; 19 November 2003)

The Afghanistan national football team (Pashto: د افغانستان ملي فوټبال ټيم ‎)(Persian: تیم ملی فوتبال افغانستان ‎) is the national team of Afghanistan and is controlled by the Afghanistan Football Federation. Founded in 1922, they joined FIFA in 1948 and the AFC in 1954, as one of the founding members. They play their home games at the Ghazi National Olympic Stadium in Kabul.

They played no international fixtures from 1984 to 2003 FIFA World Rankings and the game was not encouraged under the Taliban regime from 1996 to 2001. The Afghan national team eventually returned to the international arena in 2002, when they played South Korea in the Asian Games, losing 2-0. Since their reemergence in international football, they have reached a peak of 139th in April 2013 in the FIFA World Rankings. At present, there is a low level of participation in football due to lack of funds and security problems inside the country. Despite this, Afghanistan made it to the final match of SAFF Championship 2011, best performance in an international competition to date, where they were eventually defeated by the hosts and title holders India. In the group stage, Afghanistan drew with India, and defeated Sri Lanka and Bhutan, and won the semi-final against Nepal.

History

Early history

Formed in 1922 and affiliated to FIFA since 1948, the Afghanistan Football Federation was one of the founding members of Asian Football Confederation in 1954. The first football club established in the country, Mahmoudiyeh F.C., was founded in 1934. Three years later the team traveled to India and took part in 18 games of which they won 8, lost 9 and drew 1.^{[citation needed]} The second football club founded was Ariana Kabul F.C. which was established in 1941. This team traveled to Tehran, Iran upon invitation, played 3 games, winning one game and losing two.^{[citation needed]}

The country's first international match was played against Iran on 25 August 1941, which was drawn, 0–0 in Ghazi Stadium, Kabul. Afghanistan's only appearance in an Olympic Games football tournament was at the 1948 Summer Olympic Games when they played Luxembourg on 31 July 1948 and lost 6–0.^{[citation needed]} Prior to 2002, Afghanistan was last seen on the international stage during 1984 Asian Cup Qualification. Afghanistan played no international games from 1984 to 2002, due to Soviet war in Afghanistan, Civil war in Afghanistan (1992–1996) and Taliban regime.

2000s

A football match between members of ISAF and Afghan National Army in 2009.

Following the demise of the Taliban regime, Afghanistan participated in their first international tournament in the 2003 SAFF Gold Cup where they lost all three group stage matches to India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.^{[citation needed]} Later in the same year, Afghanistan took part in the 2004 AFC Asian Cup qualification where they won against Kyrgyzstan but lost to Nepal and failed to make it to the next round.^{[citation needed]} Afghanistan started its FIFA World Cup campaign for the first time in 2003 where they played Turkmenistan in 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification. They lost both matches in aggregate of 13–0.^{[citation needed]} This was first time Afghanistan participated in FIFA World Cup qualification though they had been affiliated since 1948. Afghanistan lost a friendly match against Tajikistan in November 2005, after which the team went to Pakistan to take part in the 2005 South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup, which they lost to the Maldives and Pakistan but won against Sri Lanka.^{[citation needed]} They also participated in the first edition of the AFC Challenge Cup in 2006, for which they drew both matches with Chinese Taipei and the Philippines with Afghan footballers Hafizullah Qadami and Sayed Maqsood Hashemi both scoring to produce a drawn result^{[citation needed]} and on their second campaign of world cup in 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification were eliminated by Syria.^{[citation needed]} In the SAFF Championship 2008 Afghanistan lost to Bhutan but drew with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.^{[citation needed]} Afghanistan entered the second round of the AFC Challenge Cup in 2008, by winning in group D of the AFC Challenge Cup Qualification, drawing with Bangladesh and winning against Kyrgyzstan. During the AFC Challenge Cup campaign, Afghanistan played two friendlies with Bangladesh and Kyrgyzstan, drawing and winning their games respectively. In the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup, Afghanistan lost all group matches to India, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.^{[citation needed]}

Afghanistan in two International friendly match vs Nepal and Malaysia in 2008 was unable to come with a victory while they could managed to draw with Nepal while lost with a big difference to Malaysia. In 2009 SAFF Championship Afghanistan lost all its matches to Maldives, India and Nepal.^{[citation needed]} Hashmatullah Barakzai scored only goal of Afghanistan against Maldives which they lost. In November 2010, Afghanistan played an friendly against Tajikistan which the teams lost 1–0.^{[citation needed]}

2011 onwards

Players are celebrating after winning their 2011 SAFF Championship Semi Final against the tournaments highest ranked team Nepal. It also marked Afghanistan's first win over Nepal.

Afghanistan beat Bhutan 5–0 in 2010 AFC Challenge Cup Qualification.^{[citation needed]} In the first leg, they won Bhutan 3–0 with Sidiq Walizada scoring all 3 goalsand 2-0 in the second leg. In the second qualification round, Afghanistan lost to Nepal and North Korea, whilst beating Sri Lanka but failed to qualify for the next stage.^{[citation needed]}

Afghanistan comepted in their third World Cup qualifying campaign playing the first leg of their first match against Palestine in Tajikistan due to security reasons, which they lost,^{[citation needed]} and the second leg of the match in Palestine which they drew with Balal Arezou scoring,^{[citation needed]} meaning they failed to advance to the second round and were eliminated.

Afghanistan's defender Djelaludin Sharityar and Sunil Chhetri of India in action during their game in SAFF Championship 2011.

In 2011 SAFF Championship Afghanistan drew their first match against India, the hosts and defending champion, with Balal Arezou scoring in the first five minutes.^{[citation needed]} They then beat Sri Lanka, with two goals from Sandjar Ahmadi and one from Ata Yamrali, and then beatBhutan 8–1,^{[citation needed]} the biggest victory in the history of Afghanistan football.^{[citation needed]} In this match, Balal Arezou scored the only Hat-trick of the competition^{[citation needed]} with 4 goals and the team scored the quickest goal of the tournament through Ata Yamrali in the third minute.^{[citation needed]} For the first time Afghanistan reached Semi Final of the tournament and faced Nepal whom they beat 1–0 in Extra time with the only goal scored by Balal Arezou in the 101st minute.^{[citation needed]} It was the first win of Afghanistan over Nepal. In the final Afghanistan played India to whom they lost 4–0.^{[citation needed]} After the match vs India, Kam Air Airlines awarded every player with $1,000 cash, and president Hamid Karzai appreciated their success and performance in the tournament.^{[citation needed]}

Kit

In 2010 the Afghanistan Football Federation signed a 5 year contract with Danish sports brand Hummel to sponsor both the Men's and Women's team.^{[citation needed]}

Afghanistan all-time record against all nations

Against	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	GF	GA	GD	% Won
Bangladesh	4	0	3	1	5	8	−3	0%
Bhutan	4	3	0	1	14	4	+10	75%
China PR	1	0	0	1	0	6	−6	0%
Chinese Taipei	1	0	1	0	2	2	0	0%
Hong Kong	2	0	1	1	2	4	−2	0%
India	5	0	1	4	1	12	−11	0%
Iran	2	0	1	1	0	4	−4	0%
Iraq	2	0	0	2	1	7	−6	0%
Japan	1	0	0	1	0	2	−2	0%
Jordan	1	0	0	1	1	6	−5	0%
Kyrgyzstan	2	2	0	0	3	1	+2	100%
Laos	1	0	1	0	1	1	0	0%
Luxembourg	1	0	0	1	0	6	−6	0%
Malaysia	1	0	0	1	0	6	−6	0%
Maldives	2	0	0	2	2	12	−10	0%
Monaco	1	1	0	0	1	0	+1	100%
North Korea	1	0	0	1	0	2	−2	0%
Nepal	5	1	1	3	2	10	−8	20%
Pakistan	2	1	0	1	1	1	0	50%
Palestine	2	0	1	1	1	3	−2	0%
Philippines	1	0	1	0	1	1	0	0%
Qatar	5	0	1	4	3	16	−10	0%
Saudi Arabia	2	0	0	2	0	8	−8	0%
Syria	2	0	0	2	1	5	−4	0%
South Korea	1	0	0	1	2	8	−6	0%
Sri Lanka	7	5	1	1	8	5	+3	80%
Tajikistan	4	0	0	4	2	12	−10	0%
Turkmenistan	3	0	0	3	0	19	−19	0%
Total	65	13	12	40	55	169	−114

Source:^{[citation needed]}

Home stadium

On December 15, the Afghan Olympic Committee celebrated the re-opening of the newly renovated Ghazi Stadium in Kabul. It was replaced by new grass and is a national pride.

Ghazi Stadium is home stadium of Afghanistan which is a multi-purpose stadium in Kabul, Afghanistan. It was built during the reign of Amānullāh Khān in 1923, The stadium has a capacity of 25,000 people.^{[citation needed]} First international match hosted there was played between Iran and Afghanistan in 1941 and was drawn 0–0.^{[citation needed]} Their 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification second leg match was played at the Ghazi stadium against Turkmenistan which Afghanistan lost 2–0, having previously lost the first leg 11–0.^{[citation needed]} Ghazi Stadium was used more for executions and public works than sport during taliban regime.^{[citation needed]} Post Taliban regime stadium is being maintained and controlled by Afghanistan Football Federation. Kabul Premier League and other local football tournaments take place in the stadium.^{[citation needed]}

Results and fixtures

The following are Afghanistan's results and fixtures since 2010.

As of 8 December 2011^{[citation needed]}

      Win       Draw       Loss

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Result	Win/ Loss/ Draw	Goalscorer(s)	Captain	Competition
16	2 March 2013	Vientiane, Laos	Sri Lanka	1–0	W	Balal Arezou 45'		2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualification
17	4 March 2013	Vientiane, Laos	Mongolia	1–0	W	Balal Arezou 59'		2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualification
18	6 March 2013	Vientiane, Laos	Laos	1–1	D	Arash Hatifie 58'		2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualification
19	4 June 2013	Qorqan Tepa, Tajikistan	Tajikistan	2-3	L			International Friendly

Current squad

The following players have been selected for friendly match vs Tajikistan to be played on June 4, 2013.
Statistics include official FIFA-recognised matches only.

0#0 Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club 25 1GK Hamidullah Yosufzai (1981-12-02) 2 December 1981 17 0 Firozi Kabul F.C. 1 1GK Abdul Qayum Sapond Unknown 0 0 De Maiwand Atalan F.C. 37 2DF Ali Ahmad Yarzada (1985-15-10) 10 March 1985 16 0 Toofaan Harirod F.C. 2 2DF Muqadar Qazizadah (1988-09-11) 11 September 1988 12 0 Shaheen Asmayee F.C. 3 2DF Zohib Islam Amiri (1987-05-02) 2 May 1987 31 2 Mumbai FC 19 2DF Mujtaba Faiz (1989-11-21) 21 November 1989 3 1 Air India FC 8 3MF Waheed Nadeem (1989-06-02) 2 June 1989 9 1 Toofaan Harirod F.C. 21 3MF Rafi Barekzai Unknown 0 0 Toofaan Harirod F.C. 3MF Faiz Muhammad Faiz Unknown De Maiwand Atalan F.C. 21 3MF Farzad Ataee Unknown 0 0 Toofaan Harirod F.C. 9 4FW Munirulhaq Nadeem Unknown 0 0 Simorgh Alborz F.C. 15 4FW Hamidullah Karimi Unknown 0 0 Toofaan Harirod F.C. 11 4FW Hashmatullah Barakzai (1987-06-04) 4 June 1987 17 2 Firozi Kabul F.C. 4FW Amrudin Sharifi 1 0 Esteghlal Kabul F.C. 21 4FW Sayed Baqer Mirsalemi Unknown 0 0

Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up for 2011 SAFF Championship & 2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualification preparation camp in Dubai

0#0 Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club 22 1GK Bashir Darman (1989-11-09) 9 November 1989 1 0 Kabul Bank 1GK Feraydun Khatibi Unknown Ansar FC 26 1GK Mansur Faqiryar (1986-01-03) 3 January 1986 5 0 VfB Oldenburg 4 2DF Faisal Sakhizada (1990-06-15) 15 June 1990 12 0 Dandenong Thunder SC 19 2DF Fardin Shinwari Unknown Afghan Premier F.C. 16 2DF Djelaludin Sharityar (1984-03-15) 15 March 1984 21 1 Al Hadd SCC 33 2DF Saboor Khalili (1985-09-05) 5 September 1985 2 0 Oststeinbeker SV 33 2DF Abassin Alikhil (1991-19-04) 4 July 1991 0 0 Eintracht Frankfurt II 14 2DF Yousef Samy (1985-04-11) 11 April 1985 2 0 Bay Area Ambassadors 34 2DF Qays Shayesteh (1988-22-03) 3 October 1988 3 0 Emmen 19 2DF Yusuf Barak (1984-02-02) 2 February 1984 6 0 KSV Hessen Kassel II 39 2DF Zakria Rezai (1989-29-07) 7 May 1989 10 0 Ordu Kabul F.C. 2DF Abassin Alikhil (1991-04-19) 19 April 1991 3 0 Eintracht Frankfurt II 2DF Maroof Mohammadi Unknown Toofaan Harirod F.C. 2DF Sarmi Hasil Unknown SC Vier- und Marschlande 2DF Nassratullah Jamali (1992-05-11) 11 May 1992 1. FCA Darmstadt 7 3MF Israfeel Kohistani (1987-06-05) 5 June 1987 31 1 Vejle Boldklub Kolding 11 3MF Mustafa Azadzoi Unknown 0 0 VfB Oldenburg 17 3MF Harez-Arian Habib (1982-02-14) 14 February 1982 13 4 Hessen Kassel 20 3MF Mohammad Mashriqi (1987-07-07) 7 July 1987 12 1 Bhawanipore F.C. 28 3MF Ahmad Arash Hatifie (1986-03-13) 13 March 1986 3 1 Bay Area Ambassadors 6 3MF Idris Mashriqi (1991-07-03) 3 July 1991 2 0 Brishna FC 6 3MF Maqsood Hashemi (1985-01-22) 22 January 1985 24 2 Ordu Kabul 12 3MF Zubayr Amiri (1990-05-02) 2 May 1990 2 0 Eintracht Frankfurt II 23 3MF Masihullah Barakzai (1990-12-06) 6 December 1990 7 0 Seramiasht 21 3MF Ghulam Hazrat Niazi (1992-01-01) 1 January 1992 4 0 Ordu Kabul 15 3MF Ata Yamrali (1982-07-05) 5 July 1982 14 3 VfL 93 Hamburg 3MF Edris Hijrat Unknown Quick '20 13 3MF Faysal Shayesteh (1991-21-06) 6 September 1991 0 0 SC Heerenveen 24 3MF Ghulam Hazrat Niazi (1987-21-06) 6 September 1987 4 0 Maiwand Kabul F.C. 3MF Fayaz Azizi Unknown Simorgh Alborz F.C. 3MF Mustafa Rezai (1989-21-06) 6 September 1989 Simorgh Alborz F.C. 23 4FW Sandjar Ahmadi (1992-02-10) 10 February 1992 8 2 SC Vier- und Marschlande 18 4FW Mustafa Hadid (1987-08-25) 25 August 1987 8 3 Altona 93 10 4FW Balal Arezou (1988-12-28) 28 December 1988 10 9 Churchill Brothers S.C. 10 4FW Sediq Walizada (1992-05-16) 16 May 1992 8 3 Ordu Kabul 32 4FW Milad Salem (1988-03-03) 3 March 1988 4 0 SV Wehen Wiesbaden

Competition records

FIFA World Cup record

Asian Qualification Records
Year	Round	GP	W	D	L	GS	GA
1930 to 2002	Did not enter
2006 to 2014	Did not qualify
Total		6	0	1	5	2	21

Source:^{[citation needed]}

Olympic Games record

• Afghanistan's only appearance in an Olympic Games football tournament was at the 1948 Summer Olympic Games when they played Luxembourg on 31 July 1948 and lost 6–0.

Olympic Games record
Year	Round	GP	W	D	L	GS	GA
1900 to 1940	Did not enter
1948	Round 1	1	0	0	1	0	6
1952 to 1956	Did not enter
1960	Did not qualify
1964 to 2004	Did not enter
2008	Did not qualify
Total	Best: Round 1	1	0	0	1	0	6

Source:^{[citation needed]}

AFC Asian Cup record

Asian Cup
Year	Round	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA
1956 to 1972	Withdrew
1976 to 1984	Did not qualify
1988 to 2000	Did not enter
2004	Did not qualify
2007	Did not enter
2011	Did not qualify
2015	TBD
Total

Source:^{[citation needed]}

Asian Games record

Year	Round
1951	4th Place
1954	Round 1
1958 to 1998	Did not enter
2002	Round 1
2006	Did not enter

Source:^{[citation needed]}

• From the 2002 Asian Games Campaign onwards, the U-23 team replaced the full team in the tournament.

South Asian Football Federation

SAFF Championship
Year	Round	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA
1993 to 1999	Did not enter
2003	Group stage	3	0	0	3	0	6
2005	Group stage	3	1	0	2	3	11
2008	Group stage	3	0	2	1	5	7
2009	Group stage	3	0	0	3	1	7
2011	Runner Up	5	3	1	1	13	7
Total	Best: Runner Up	16	4	3	9	22	34

Source:^{[citation needed]}

AFC Challenge Cup

AFC Challenge Cup
Year	Round	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA
2006	Group stage	3	0	2	1	3	5
2008	Group stage	3	0	0	3	0	10
2010	Withdrew
2012	Did not qualify
2014	Qualified
Total	Best: Group Stage	6	0	2	4	3	15

Managers

Name	Nat	Period	Matches	Wins	Draws	Losses	Win%
Efimov		1976
Mir Ali Asghar		October 2002	3	0	0	3	0%
Holger Obermann[citation needed]		January 2003	3	0	0	3	0%
Mir Ali Akbarzada[citation needed]		March 2003	2	1	0	1	50%
Ali Askar Lali[citation needed]		2003–2005	5	1	0	4	25%
Klaus Stark[citation needed]		2005 – June 2008	17	2	7	8	12%
Mohammad Yousef Kargar		July 2008 -November 2009	-	-	-	-
Mohammad Farid[citation needed]		December 2009	3	0	0	3	0%
Mohammad Yousef Kargar[citation needed]		November 2010 – present	14	7	3	4	50%

See also

Afghanistan women's national football team

References

External links

• footballafghanistan.com
• ELORATINGS
• FIFA
• AfghanMehan
• Afghanland