Afghanistan Jumps 48 Positions in FIFA Ranking

2nd Day Results in Kandahar

Results of Matches in 2nd day of The Champions of the Zones Tournament in Kandahar:

Jowzjan 1 - 0 Etifaq Herat
Omid Helmand 1 - Big Bear Kabul

Regional Cup Kicks Off in Kandahar

Kandahar is hosting a tournament between provincial clubs from 9 provinces. All teams are divided in two groups. Group A consist of Etifaq Herat and clubs from Kabul (Big Bear), Jowzjan, Panjshir (Moqawemat) and Helmand (Omid). Clubs from Kandahar, Khost, Nangarhar and Badakhshan are placed in Group B.

AFF says they try to send the champion of this tournament to next year AFC President Cup, a promise that has been repeated in the recent years but never changed into reality.

Omid Helmand 4 - 1 Moqawemat Panjshir
Kabul v. Jowzjan postponed due to rain

Afghanistan National Football Team Doctor

Lions of Khurasan Qualifies for the Challenge Cup

Afghanistan drew 1-1 with Laos after a hard fight yesterday. Afghanistan qualified to the final stage of the AFC Challenge Cup with 7 points. Afghanistan headed to the match with Laos with 6 points from the two earlier group matches with Sri Lanka and Mongolia, while Laos had 4 points following a draw with Mongolia and a victory over Sri Lanka. Both teams knew a draw would send Afghanistan through, while Laos needed a victory. 

The Lions of Khurasan started the matched on a brighter note a completely controlled the ball within the first 12 minutes not allowing Laos to come close to the Afghanistan net. The match gradually changed to a balanced affair. 18 minutes passed the match, Djalaluddin Sharityar, the Afghan captain, was shown a yellow card which was not really necessary to give. 

While Afghanistan had better control over the ball and Balal Arezou missed a one on one opportunity, Laos scored a goal after the Afghan keeper came out of the post to clear a cheap ball. It was a shock for Afghanistan, but they continued to press until the referee showed the second yellow card to the Afghan captain and asked him to march out of the field. The decision was not welcomed by the Afghan players and the coach who was also sent off after serious protest against the decision of the referee.

Jawad Attayee, the Assistant Coach, then stepped up to guide the team, a team that was very disappointed at half time. Afghanistan made a change at the beginning of the second half. Salim Kohistani who appeared very weak in this match was replaced by a defender, Ali Ahmad Yarzada. 10 man Afghanistan, however, started to attack and was solid in defense. Eventually the efforts of Afghan team paid off at minute 58 when Mustafa Azadzoy grabbed a ball from the Laos defenders and fired on the goal. Azadzoy's shot did not result to a goal but Arash Hatifi made sure the reversed ball was inside the net through a narrow angle. 

The goal energized the Afghan team and gave them the moral they needed. Five minutes after the Afghan team scored, Attayee decided to replace the charismatic goal scorer, Belal Arezou with Munirulhaq Nadim, as Belal looked tired in the field. Another change was made in the middle field when Mashriqi came it to replace Sandjar Ahmadi in minute 80. 

Despite some attemps from both sides, the match ended in a draw and ultimate qualification of Afghanistan to the Challenge Cup. The Afghan players and coaching erupted in joy and dance after the draw with a wave of happiness and congratulation messages on Facebook and local media. 

With 7 points, Afghanistan is through to the final round of the AFC Challenge Cup where it will compete with 7 other nations from Asia. The winner of the 2014 tournament will make it to the Asia Cup in 2015. 

Afghanistan Closer to Qualification

In a much improved match, Afghanistan registered an identical 1-0 victory over Mongolia to collect 6 points after its victory in the opening against Sri Lanka. Afghanistan is now leading the group and a tie between Sri Lanka and Laos later in the day would send Afghanistan through the final stage of the tournament.

Kargar made only two changes to the team he used against Sri Lanka. Yusef Mashriqi and Amruddin Sharifi were out for Haress Habib and Sandjar Ahmadi to begin in the first 11. Afghanistan began the match on a bright note and missed a number of chances in the first half. Balal Arezou missed a sitter and Sandjar Ahmadi did the same minutes later. Afghanistan continued to put pressure on the opponent by passing long high balls and Balal scored on an assist from Sandjar in minute 66. That was the only goal as Afghanistan could not convert its chances to goals on many occasions.

While Afghanistan completely dominated the match, Mongolia created some useless chances at the dying minutes of the match. At the end, Kargar boys were the happier. The surprise was when everyone thought Kargar will make some changes, but he refused to do so until the last 15 minutes when he used Yusef Mashriqi, Wahid Nadim and Munirulhaq Nadim as substitutes for Arash Hatifi, Salim Kohistani and Sandjar Ahmadi. 

Laos will meet Sri Lanka later in the day. Afghanistan's last match is against Laos on Wednesday evening.

Afghanistan to Take on Mongolia in Thirst of Another Win

In a what is seen to be a decisive match, Afghanistan is facing a spirited Mongolia today in the Group C of AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers in Laos. Afghanistan came out victorious after a poor 1-0 victory over Sri Lanka in the opening match, while Mongolia held the host Laos to a precious 1-1 draw in the evening game.

While Afghanistan looks the better side, the Lions of Khursan should be aware of the danger of the Mongolian team. Mongolia has been speedy and dangerous on counterattacks in the match with Laos. In the first match, Afghanistan had issues with the middle field. The middle field could not hold on the ball and did not gave good passes to the opportunistic attackers. One or two changes in the middle field would change the fame for Afghanistan.

Given the fact Mongolian players are short, Afghanistan players can use their height in from of the Mongolian goal. While it is football and hard to predict, Afghanistan has all means to register another win and continue as group leader.

With a win today, Afghanistan will be the prime candidate for qualification from Group C.

The match will start at 13:30 Kabul time and will be aired on Tolo and Lemar TVs. Meanwhile, Laos will take on Sri Lanka at 16:30 Kabul time that is also aired by the same TV channels in Afghanistan and around the world.

Afghanistan v. Sri Lanka (In Pictures)

To see more pictures, click below:

Laos, a Football Loving Nation!

Surprisingly, the spectators in the Laos National Stadium were not in good numbers during the matches of Afghanistan. v Sri Lanka and even during the match of their own team, Laos v. Mongolia. 

 

Afghanistan Begins the Qualifier with a Win

In a boring match in the opening day of the AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers, Afghanistan collected all 3 points in its match against Sri Lanka. Balal Arzou was the hero for Afghanistan as he scored the winner in the last moments of the first half for Afghanistan.

By this win, Afghanistan tops Group C temporary pending the result of the match between Laos and Mongolia which is in progress right now.