Afghanistan Matches will Be Aired Live

All 3 matches of the Lions of Khurasan will be live broadcasted on Tolo and Lemar TV of Afghanistan. Aghazada, the Secretary General of AFF confirmed this news on Tolo TV.

In last Challenge Cup hosted by Nepal, Afghan football fans were deprived of watching their national heroes on TV.

Challenge Cup Opponents Involved in Friendlies

Afghanistan, Laos and Sri Lanka, 3 out of 4 contenders in Group C of AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers, played friendly matches in preparation for AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers on Feb 25 and 26.

Afghanistan played Etihad Fishwar, an Iranian club based in Dubai on Feb 25. Belal Arezou scored from the spot to give Afghanistan a 1-0 win. Afghanistan media reported Etihad Fishwar used a number of Arab players in its squad against Afghanistan. Afghanistan team had defeated this team 6-1 in late January.

Laos played a 3-3 draw with Malaysia U23 in Laos capital. This was the last friendly match of Laos ahead of Group C qualifiers that are going to be hosted by Laos. Laos team had played two Thai teams and North Korea as well.

Sri Lanka also traveled to Thailand for a week long training where it has played one friendly match against Osotspa so far. The scoreline was not in favor of Sri Lanka as it was defeated 3-1 by this Thai club. Sri Lanka scored in the latest minutes of the match from the spot.

Afghanistan is flying to Bangkok and then to Laos tonight.

Sri Lanka Announces Squad, Training Camp

 
Sri Lanka has announced its squad for AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers. Sri Lanka is grouped with Afghanistan, Laos and Mongolia. Most of the players are under age of 23 and this means Afghanistan is going to play a Sri Lankan team with a new face.

Football Federation of Sri Lanka has arranged a training camp in Thailand where Sri Lanka team will play two friendly matches from 22nd to 27th February, 2013. They will proceed to Laos on 28th February, 2013 to participate in the qualifiers.

Chathura Gunaratne has been named to captain the team for this tour.

Players

Nos.	Name	Jersey No.	Date of Birth	Position
1	D. Dasun Paranavithana	1	10/01/1991	Goalkeeper
2	H. Peter Chales	2	15/12/1991	Defence
3	Sanka Danushka Wijesiri	3	28/12/1984	Defence
4	R. A. A. Nalaka	4	31/03/1989	Midfield
5	M. M. Mohamed Sameer	5	05/04/1991	Defence
6	M. K. Mohamed Hakeem	6	25/09/1992	Defence
7	Malik Migara	7	25/10/1989	Forward
8	Dharshaka Chandrarathna	8	14/06/1993	Midfield
9	Kavindu Ishan	9	17/10/1992	Forward/Mid Filed
10	W. Chathura Gunarathna (Captain)	10	08/09/1982	Midfield
11	Nipuna Davinda Bandara	11	17/06/1991	Forward
12	E. A. Chathuranga Sanjeewa	13	06/07/1991	Forward/Midfield
13	Sachith Aloka De Silva	15	05/06/1990	Forward/Midfield
14	A. L. Mohamed Aleem	16	10/08/1991	Midfield
15	Thilina Suranda Bandara (V. Captain)	17	16/08/1985	Defence
16	Chameera Sajith Kumara	18	29/01/1993	Midfield
17	M. F. Mohomed Shufhan	19	08/04/1992	Midfield
18	D. Madushan De Silva	20	16/11/1993	Midfield
19	M. Chalana Chameera	21	10/01/1993	Forward/Midfield
20	Mohamed Waseem	22	11/10/1991	Goalkeeper
21	A.W.A.Tharindu Eranga	23	30/05/1991	Defence
22	Charitha Bandara Rathnayake	24	26/12/1992	Defence
23	Sujan Perera	25	18/07/1992	Goalkeeper

Afghanistan to Play a Friendly

Afghanistan is going to play a friendly match next Monday in Dubai. The name of the opponent is not revealed yet. However, the national players are told this is an Iranian club.

Details to follow ........

Afghanistan Squad for AFC Challenge Cup Qualifier Announced

The 23 member squad of Afghanistan for AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers was announced officially yesterday. As stated in my previous posts, 9 players who play in Afghanistan and 14 players who are playing outside Afghanistan are invited to the team.

Goalkeeper
Hamidullah Yousefzai – Foroozi Afghanistan
Abdul Qayum Sapond – De Maiwand Atalan Afghanistan
Mansur Faqiryar – VFB Oldenberg Germany
Defence
Ali Yarzada – Toofan Harirood Afghanistan
Muqadar Qazizaza – Shaheen Asmayee Afghanistan
Djelaludin Sharityar – Al Hidd Bahrain
Faisal Sakhizada – Dandenong Thunder Australia
Islam Amiri – Mumbai FC India
Midfield
Rafi Barekzai – Toofan Harirood Afghanistan
Waheed Nadeem – Toofan Harirood Afghanistan
Idris Mashriqi – USA
Yusef Mashriqi – Bhawanipore FC India
Harez Habib – BC Sport Kasel Germany
Salim Kohistani – Vejle boldklub Kolding II Denmark
Arash Hatifie – USA
Mustafa Azadzoy – VFB Oldenberg Germany

Fardin Shinwari – USA
Forward
Amrudin Sharifi – Esteghlal Kabul Afghanistan
Munirulhaq Nadim– Simorgh Alborz Afghanistan
Belal Arezou – Churchill Brothers SC India
Sandjar Ahmadi – SC Vier- und Marschlande Germany
Mustafa Hadid – Altona 93 Germany
Hamid Karimi – Toofan Harirood Afghanistan

Laos to Play a Friendly with Malaysia U23

Laos to play Malaysia U23 in a friendly match on February 26 in Laos. The match is part of the preparation for the AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers Group C. Group C consists of Laos as the host, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Mongolia.

Laos has played 3 matches against Thai clubs and North Korea and the match against Malaysia will further strengthen its squad for the Challenge Cup.

Opportuntiy to Make a Record in FIFA Ranking for Afghanistan

Afghanistan has the best chance to climb to its highest best position in FIFA World Ranking, if it wins all its 3 matches in the upcoming AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers. Afghanistan is grouped with host Laos, Sri Lanka and Mongolia and victories over these opponents will increase the points of Afghanistan National Team from 39 to 233.

With these points, Afghanistan can jump to 133 in the world ranking which would be a record for Afghanistan. Afghanistan reached its highest place, 162, in FIFA ranking in May 2011 and since then it has been declining since no friendly match has been organized.

If Afghanistan lose all its 3 matches, it will keep its 39 points with a possible 1 step decline to 190.

Given this scenario, much is at stake for Afghanistan in this qualifier. Not only Afghanistan can qualify for the final stage of AFC Challenge Cup for the second time in history, it can also improve its ranking at the global ranking.

Afghan Probable Squad in the AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers

Based on my information, the following players are making the 23 member squad of Afghanistan for the AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers to be held in Laos between 2 -4 March. The team is leaving to Dubai today for a 6 day training and then will fly to Laos on February 27.

Goal Keepers:

1. Hamidullah Yousefzai (Foroozi Kabul)
2. Mansur Faqiryar, (Germany)
3. Abdul Qayum Sapand (Afghanistan)

Defence:

4. Islam Amiri (Mumbai FC, India)
5. Faisal Sakhizada (Safa) (Dandenong Thunder, Australia)
6. Moqadar Qazizada (Foroozi, Afghanistan)
7. Ali Ahmad Yarzada (Toofan Harirood, Afghanistan)
8. Djalaludin Sharityar (Al Had, Bahrain)

Midfield:

9. Wahid Nadim (Toofan Harirood, Afghanistan)
10. Yousef Mashriqi, (Bowahnipar FC, India)
11. Edris Mashriqi, (USA)
12. Rafi Barekzay (Toofan Harirood, Afghanistan)
13. Fardin Shaiwani (USA)
14. Salim Kohistani (Denmark)
15. Arash Hatifi (USA)
16. Zainuddin Sharifi (Estiqlal Kabul, Afghanistan)

Attack:

17. Balal Arezou, (Churchill Brothers, India)
18. Hamidullah Karimi (Toofan Harirood, Afghanistan)
19. Sandjar Ahmadi (SC Vier- und Marschlande, Germany)
20. Mustafa Hadid (Altona 93, Germany)
21. Mustafa Azadzoy (VFB Oldenberg, Germany)
22. Munirul Haq Nadim (Simorgh Alborz, Afghanistan)
23. Amrudin Sharifi (Estiqlal Kabul, Afghanistan)

Mashriqi Becomes the 4th Afghan to Join I-League

Yusef Mashriqi joins Bhowanipar FC for the I-League 2nd Division campaign. He is awaiting his international clearance and is due to arrive in Kolkata on Tuesday to commence training with his teammates. Bhowanipar FC was established in 1910, but was accepted in Division 2 of the I-League in 2012. They have finished 6 in their 7 member group and failed to promote to the I-League.

Mashriqi is the international midfielder for Afghanistan and appeared in 12 matches for Afghanistan. He has played for the NY Red Bulls Academy and some other Afghan teams in US. In addition, he was in talks with Bunyodkar of Uzbekistan, but failed to reach in agreement with them last year. 

Mashriqi is the 4th Afghan player that chooses to play football in India. Islam Amiri, Belal Arezou and Mujtaba Faiz are playing in the I-league.

Afghanistan to Begin 2nd Camp in Dubai

The second preparatory camp for the National Football Team of Afghanistan will be held in Dubai between February 20 to 27. The 23 Afghanistan and abroad based players who made it to the final squad of the Lions of Khurasan will attend this camp.

AFF is trying to organize two friendly matches with UAE based clubs, but the matches are not confirmed yet. On Feb 27, the national team leaves to Laos where it will participate in the Group C of AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers. Afghanistan is grouped with Sri Lanka, Mongolia and Laos and will play them on March 2, 4 and 6 respectively.

Afghanistan Drops 3 Places in FIFA World Ranking

Afghanistan dropped 3 places in FIFA ranking this month. Keeping its previous 39 points, Afghanistan stands at 189 place. In Asia, Afghanistan is at 42 out of 46 AFC members. Similarly, it stands at 5 ahead of Sri Lanka and Bhutan in South Asia.

Two of contenders of Afghanistan in Group C of AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers. Laos is at 173, Mongolia at 181 and Sri Lanka at 193.

Afghanistan Premier to Undergo with Some Changes in 2nd Season

The Premier League in Afghanistan will witness a little bit of changes next season. In the inaugural season, players of the 8 teams were selected by 3 coaches from the Afghanistan Football Federation. 3 members of each team were selected by the audience through SMS. The teams were divided into 2 groups of 4 teams. The top two teams from each group advanced to the semi-final match and the winners of the semi-finals fought over the title.

This season, however, there would be some changes:

1. AFF is doing its best to turn the league into a home/away system. However, all matches will be played in one stadium.
2. Each team will have only 18 players compared to last year's 21.
3. There would be regional qualifiers to the league. Each province would have a team to play in the regional qualifiers, however, each team can recruit players from other provinces. The winner of each 8 regional qualifier (Kabul would have its own qualifier) will be promoted to the main league.
4. The league will begin in mid-August and will last for more than two months.

Balal Arezoo Joins Churchil Brothers of I-League

Only a week after a former Afghan international joined Air India in Indian Premier League, Afghanistan's finest striker, Belal Arezoo, joined the leaders of the I-League table. Belal is transferred to Churchil Brothers from Asker FC of Norway based on a 4 month loan contract.

There has been talks of Belal playing in the I-league and teams like Mumbai FC and Sikkim had offered him contracts which were rejected by Belal. He attracted the attention of I-League teams after he went to the Finals of both South Asian Games and SAFF Games with Afghanistan-being the top scorer for Afghanistan.

In addition to Belal Arezoo and Mujtaba Faiz, Islam Amiri is another Afghan international who joined Mumbai FC of I-League two years ago.

Laos in a Goalless Draw with North Korea

In a friendly match on Feb 6, Laos drew North Korea with a goalless draw. In contrast to FIFA website, the website of Laos Football Federation says Laos lost the match 0-1. Even with the defeat, Laos made its voice heard.

Laos defeated Buriram United of Thailand, but went down to a division one club of Thailand last week. This means the team is making good preparation and they want to top the Group C, the group they are going to host between March 2 to 6.

The other group members, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Mongolia did not play friendly matches on February 6 which is a FIFA day for friendly matches.

Laos to Play North Korea in a Friendly

As part of their preparations for the AFC Challenge Cup Qualifier, Laos is going to play North Korea. The match will be played at Tuodong Sport Center Stadium, Kunming, China.

Laos also played Buriram United of Thailand a won the match 1-0 on January 30. Laos is grouped with Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Mongolia in Group C. Group C matches will be played on March 2, 4 and 6 in the capital of Laos.