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Revision as of 17:35, 1 September 2017

This article is about Afghanistan's national football team. For the women team, see Afghanistan women's national football team.

Afghanistan
افغانستان
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Lions of Khurasan
(شیران خراسان)
other nicknames
AssociationAfghanistan Football Federation (AFF)
ConfederationAFC (Asia)
Sub-confederationCAFA (Central-Asia)
Head coachOtto Pfister
CaptainFaysal Shayesteh
Most capsZohib Islam Amiri (42)
Top scorerBalal Arezou (9)
Home stadiumGhazi Stadium
FIFA codeAFG
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current156 Decrease 1 (10 August 2017)
Highest122 (April 2014)
Lowest204 (January 2003)
First international
Afghanistan Afghanistan 0–0 Iran Iran
(Kabul, Afghanistan; 25 August 1941)
Biggest win
 Bhutan 1–8 Afghanistan Afghanistan
(New Delhi, India; 7 December 2011)
Biggest defeat
 Turkmenistan 11–0 Afghanistan Afghanistan
(Ashgabat, Turkmenistan; 19 November 2003)

The Afghanistan National Football Team (Dari:تیم ملی فوتبال افغانستان), also known as the Lions of Khurasan, is the national football team of Afghanistan and is controlled by the Afghanistan Football Federation. Founded in 1922, they played their first international game against Iran in Kabul, 1941. Afghanistan then 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, the capital of Afghanistan. In 2013, Afghanistan won the 2013 SAFF Championship. Afghanistan also earned the "FIFA Fair Play Award" in 2013.[1]

History

Early history

Afghanistan national football team in the 1920s

Formed in 1922 and affiliated to FIFA since 1948, the Afghanistan Football Federation was one of the founding members of the Asian Football Confederation in 1954.[2]

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. 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.

Afghanistan's only appearance and first FIFA international match was at the Olympic Games football tournament in the 1948 Summer Olympic Games when they played Luxembourg on 26 July 1948 and lost 6–0. Prior to 2002, Afghanistan was last seen on the international stage during the 1984 AFC Asian Cup qualification, with its last match lost 6–1 against Jordan on 20 September 1984. Afghanistan played no international games from 1984 to 2002, due to the latter years of the Soviet war in Afghanistan, civil war in Afghanistan (1992–1996), and the Taliban regime.

2001–2010

Following the demise of the Taliban regime, the Afghan national team eventually returned to the international arena in 2002, when they played South Korea in the Asian Games, losing 2–0. 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. 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. 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. This was the first time Afghanistan participated in FIFA World Cup qualification though they had been affiliated since 1948. The team went to Pakistan to take part in the 2005 South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup, which they lost to the Maldives.

Match scene between Afghanistan and Turkmenistan in a FIFA World Cup qualification match in Kabul, 2003.

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, and on their second world cup campaign in 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification were eliminated by Syria. In the SAFF Championship 2008 Afghanistan lost to Bhutan but drew with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Afghanistan entered the second round of the AFC Challenge Cup in 2008,[3] by winning in group D of the AFC Challenge Cup Qualification, drawing with Bangladesh and winning against Kyrgyzstan. In the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup, Afghanistan lost all group matches to India, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. In 2009 SAFF Championship Afghanistan lost all its matches to Maldives, India and Nepal. Hashmatullah Barakzai scored Afghanistan's only goal against Maldives in that loss.

2014 FIFA World Cup qualification

Afghanistan competed 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, and the second leg of the match in Palestine which they drew with Balal Arezou scoring, meaning they failed to advance to the second round and were eliminated.

2011 SAFF Championship

Players are celebrating after winning their 2011 SAFF Championship Semi Final against Nepal

In 2011 SAFF Championship Afghanistan defeated Bhutan 8–1, the biggest victory in the history of the Afghanistan football team. In this match, Balal Arezou scored the only hat-trick of the competition with 4 goals and the team scored the quickest goal of the tournament through Ata Yamrali in the third minute. It was Afghanistan's first Semi Final. In the Semi-Final of the tournament, the Afghans faced Nepal whom they beat 1–0 in extra time with the only goal scored by Balal Arezou in the 101st minute. It was the first win of Afghanistan over Nepal. In the final, Afghanistan played India to whom they lost 4–0.

2012 AFC Challenge Cup

Afghanistan defeated Bhutan 5–0 in 2012 AFC Challenge Cup Qualification. In the first leg, they beat Bhutan 3–0 with Sidiq Walizada scoring all 3 goals, and 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.

Afghan Premier League

For the first time in the football history of Afghanistan the AFF announced a league where 8 teams will compete against each other. The league was established in 2012 with the first season running through September and October of that year. 8 teams were concurrently established in 2012 to become the inaugural competitors.[4]

Players for the league were found through a reality television show called Maidan e Sabz ("Green Field").[5] The concept came from the Afghanistan Football Federation and the Afghanistan-based MOBY Group, which owns a number of TV channels and radio stations and is the largest media group in the country. MOBY Group channels will broadcast matches. Players were voted onto teams by a jury and by the television audience. Eight teams of 18 players, one from every region, were formed.[6]

The Afghan High Peace Council has praised the creation and development of the League as an, "opportunity to bring peace and stability" to Afghanistan.[4]

2013 SAFF Championship winners

See also: 2013 SAFF Championship Final
2013 SAFF Championship Final starting lineup on September 11, 2013, in Dasarath Stadium (Kathmandu, Nepal).
Hamidullah Karimi with the SAFF Championship trophy after their win against India

On 20 August 2013 before the 2013 SAFF Championship Afghanistan played Pakistan in a FIFA approved friendly for the first time in 36 years. This was also the first time on home ground after a decade which ended with a 3–0 victory over Pakistan with goals from Sandjar Ahmadi, Ahmad Hatifi and Maruf Mohammadi.[7]

Afghanistan entered the 2013 SAFF Championship as the highest ranked team by FIFA in the tournament placed at 139th. Afghanistan started the campaign with a 3-goal victory over Bhutan, with goals from Amiri, Azadzoy and Barakzai. The second match again ended with a 3–1 victory over Sri Lanka with goals from Rafi, Amiri and Barakzai. The Semi-Final of the tournament was the repeat of last year's edition with Afghanistan again defeating Nepal with a solitary goal of Sandjar Ahmadi, that took Afghanistan in to the final of the tournament against India once again. Mansur Faqiryar of Afghanistan showed an outstanding goalkeeping performance by saving two back to back penalty kicks from Nepal in the last minutes of the match. The Final match of the tournament saw the 2011 SAFF Championship finalists again at Dashrath Stadium Nepal, where Afghanistan outplayed the defending champions India by 2 goals.[8] Afghanistan showed an outstanding performance. Goals from Azadzoy and Sandjar Ahmadi in each half of the game put the Afghan football team in front, to claim their first SAFF Championship title in their history.[9] Mansur Faqiryar was named the best player of the tournament, for his outstanding goal keeping skills throughout the tournament.

AFC Challenge Cup 2014

In the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup, Afghanistan did well to reach the Semi-final, losing to the eventual champions Palestine, 2–0. They finished their campaign in fourth spot, the country's highest finishing place in the short term the cup has existed, losing to Maldives on a penalty shoot out: (7–8) after a 1–1 draw for third spot of the competition. On 10 June 2014 Afghanistan Football Federation moved from South Asian Football Federation SAFF to the CAFF. At the 2014 Ballon D'or ceremony, the Afghanistan Football Federation won the FIFA Fair Play Award. Afghanistan was honored with the award for the outstanding performance of the Afghanistan football during the year, despite the chaos of war and difficult political situations the country is facing. FIFA made a statement and posted on its website that "Following a year of remarkable achievement in grassroots level football, building infrastructure to further develop football throughout the country and nurturing a professional league despite enduring over a decade of disorder stemming from war, Afghanistan has been presented the 2013 FIFA Fair Play Award."

2018 FIFA World Cup qualification

Afghan national team before the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Japan, Azadi Stadium

On 9 February 2015, it was confirmed that the AFF signed a new coach for the national team. German-Bosnian trainer Slaven Skeledzic, signed a 1-year contract with the AFF. The new trainer had earlier coached the under 17 and under 19 teams in Germany. Skeledzic played football in Germany and coached youth teams in the Bundesliga.[10] On 27 April 2015 the AFF signed a contract with a new sponsor called Alokozay Group of Companies.

Afghanistan began the qualification with a 6–0 loss against Syria. After this match they had to play against lower ranked Cambodia. They won their first World Cup qualification match ever in the history of Afghanistan football. In their 3rd match against Japan, Afghanistan lost again 6–0. Against Singapore they lost 1–0 but deserved a win. With the position they were in they had to do something else. But unfortunately they lost against Syria with 5–2. In October 2015 the AFF forced Skeledzic to resign from his position, after the 5–2 defeat against Syria. In November 2015, the Afghan National Team announced that Petar Segrt was appointed as the new head coach. With a new coach and new players Afghanistan won their 2nd match against Cambodia with 3–0. After the qualifications the SAFF Championship started.

2015 SAFF Championship

See also: 2015 SAFF Championship Final

This was the last edition of the SAFF Championship where the national team of Afghanistan would play. After the team was announced Afghanistan began preparing for the tournament. They were in a group of 4 countries which was: Maldives, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan. Afghanistan won the first match 4–0 against Bangladesh. After they won the second match against Bhutan 3–0 they qualified for the semi-finals. They won their last match against Maldives 4–1. In the semi-final Afghanistan had to play against Sri Lanka. The match ended in a 5–0 win for Afghanistan. Eventually after reaching the final quite easily, Afghanistan had to play against tournament favorite India. This was a replay of the finals in the 2011 and 2013 SAFF Championships. After 90 minutes the match ended in a 1–1 draw. In extra time Afghanistan deserved a penalty which they were declined. After this moment India scored the 2–1 and won the 2015 SAFF Championship for the 7th time. Khaibar Amani was given the topscorer of the tournament award with 4 goals.

2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification

Afghan supporters watching their national team play against Japan during 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification in Azadi Stadium, Tehran.

When the tournament ended Afghanistan still had a chance to qualify for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. After their second loss against Japan with a 5–0 defeat, Afghanistan had to win against Singapore to qualify as 4th best in their group. And so they did with a 2–1 win against Singapore and a qualification spot for the 3rd round of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.

After the World Cup qualification ended Afghanistan played some friendly games. In September against Lebanon which the game ended in a 2-0 win for Lebanon. In October against Malaysia which ended in a 1-1 draw. Before the match against Tajikistan Segrt called up 24 players which did not include the player Zohib Islam Amiri because the player previously made the decision to not play anymore for Afghanistan. But without letting Segrt know the AFF did included Amiri in the squad. Segrt disagreed with the AFF and made the decision to quit as the headcoach of the national team. This was just after his 1-year anniversary with the national team. The match against Tajikistan ended in a 1-0 loss for Afghanistan. Anoush Dastgir led the team as interim coach for this match.

In February 2017 the AFF announced the signing of Otto Pfister as the new head coach of the national team.[11] Afghanistan played a friendly game against Singapore before the Asian Cup qualification match against Vietnam. Afghanistan won the game with 2-1 with goals from Mukhammad and Azadzoy.[12] The important Asian Cup qualification match against Vietnam ended in a 1-1 draw with a goal from Hassan Amin.[13]

Nicknames

The Afghanistan national team has received several nicknames from supporters and media. The most common one used to refer the team is Khurasan Lions. Many Afghans also prefer the nickname the Lions of Khurasan. They are also called Melli Poshan or the Team Melli.

Kit

In 2002, the Japanese sports brand ASICS was the sponsor for the national team until 2004. In 2005, the German sports brand Adidas was the sponsor of the national team till 2008. In 2009, the Danish sports brand Hummel equipped the national team. In 2011 the Afghanistan Football Federation had signed a four-year contract with Hummel, to provide both the men's and women's national teams with all of the sportswear from 2011 to 2015. On 6 March 2015, the Afghan Football Federation signed a new four-year contract with Hummel till 2019. On 27 April 2015, the AFF signed a contract with a new sponsor called Alokozay Group of Companies. This sponsor will be on the shirts of the national team. Hummel released in 2016 the new kits for Afghanistan. It included an integrated hijab for the female Afghanistan footballers to play with while being covered from head to toe.[14]

Period Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
2003–2008 Adidas none
2009–present Hummel Alokozay Group of Companies (AGC)

Kit history

Home

Away

Home stadium

The Ghazi Stadium in Kabul, which is now referred to as the Afghan Football Federation Stadium

Major football matches in Afghanistan are held at the Afghan Football Federation Stadium (popularly known as the Ghazi Stadium) in Kabul. It was built in 1923 during the reign of King Amanullah Khan, who is regarded as Ghazi (Hero) for the Afghan victory in the Third Anglo-Afghan War and gaining independence for his nation after the Anglo-Afghan Treaty of 1919. The stadium has the capacity to house 25,000 people. The first international football match hosted there was played between Iran and Afghanistan in 1941 and ended as a draw, 0–0. 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. The stadium is maintained and controlled by the Afghanistan Football Federation. The Afghan Premier League and other local football tournaments take place in the stadium. The Ghazi Stadium was renovated in 2011 after the entire ground was removed and replaced with new soil and artificial turf placed on top. The stadium now holds bigger sporting events. The proposed construction of a new national stadium was completed in the 2013/2014 season which cost 25 million euros.[15] In 2015 FIFA helped the AFF with the reconstruction of new youth teams and develop also women's football for the national team.[16]

Results and fixtures

Main article: Afghanistan national football team results

  Win   Draw   Loss

2017

Friendly

23 March 2017 (2017-03-23) Afghanistan  2–1  Singapore Doha, Qatar
Mukhammad 5'
Azadzoy 58'		 Report Shawal 47' Stadium: Ahmed bin Ali Stadium
Attendance: 200
6 June 2017 (2017-06-06) Afghanistan  2–1  Maldives Dubai, United Arab Emirates
TBA Amin 38'
Popalzay 62'		 Ali 41' (pen.) Stadium: Al-Rashid Stadium
30 August 2017 (2017-08-30) Oman  v  Afghanistan TBA
TBA Stadium: TBA
4 October 2017 (2017-10-04) Tajikistan  v  Afghanistan Dushanbe, Tajikistan
TBA Stadium: TBA

2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification

28 March 2017 (2017-03-28) Third round Afghanistan  1–1  Vietnam Dushanbe, Tajikistan
19:00 UTC+5 Amin 69' Report Nguyễn Văn Toàn 64' Stadium: Central Republican Stadium [note 1]
Attendance: 2500
Referee: Turki Alkhudayr (Saudi Arabia)
13 June 2017 (2017-06-13) Third round Cambodia  1–0  Afghanistan Phnom Penh, Cambodia
TBD UTC+7 Mony Udom 59' Report Stadium: Olympic Stadium
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Mooud Bonyadifard (Iran)
5 September 2017 (2017-09-05) Third round Jordan  v  Afghanistan Amman, Jordan
TBD UTC+2 Report Stadium: Amman International Stadium
10 October 2017 (2017-10-10) Third round Afghanistan  v  Jordan Dushanbe, Tajikistan
TBD UTC+5 Report Stadium: Central Republican Stadium [note 1]
14 November 2017 (2017-11-14) Third round Vietnam  v  Afghanistan Hanoi, Vietnam
TBD UTC+5 Report Stadium: Mỹ Đình National Stadium

2018

2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification
27 March 2018 (2018-03-27) Third round Afghanistan  v  Cambodia Dushanbe, Tajikistan
TBD UTC+5 Report Stadium: Central Republican Stadium [note 1]

Coaching staff

Otto Pfister, current manager
Head Coach Germany Otto Pfister
Assistant Coach Afghanistan Anoush Dastgir
Coordinator Afghanistan Ali Askar Lali
Goalkeeping Coach Afghanistan Mansur Faqiryar
Physiotherapist Netherlands Kevin van Geel
National Team Manager Afghanistan Mustafa Mehrzad
Team Doctor Afghanistan Shakib Safai
Equipment Manager Afghanistan Mohammad Ali Mohammad
Program Director Germany Mike Pfister

Current squad

The following 25 players have been called up for the friendly match against Oman on 30 August 2017 and for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification against Jordan on 5 September 2017.

Caps and goals are correct as of 6 June 2017, after the match against Maldives.[17]

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Ovays Azizi (1992-01-29) 29 January 1992 (age 32) 18 0 Denmark Boldklubben 1908
1GK Hamidullah Wakily (1994-06-30) 30 June 1994 (age 30) 0 0 Afghanistan Toofaan Harirod F.C.
1GK Khaiss Wahab (1999-07-17) 17 July 1999 (age 25) 0 0 Germany Kickers Offenbach
2DF Zohib Islam Amiri (1987-05-02) 2 May 1987 (age 37) 42 6 unattached
2DF Mustafa Hadid (1988-08-25) 25 August 1988 (age 36) 34 2 Germany Altona 93
2DF Hassan Amin (1991-10-12) 12 October 1991 (age 33) 20 2 Germany SV Waldhof Mannheim
2DF Kanischka Taher (1991-04-04) 4 April 1991 (age 33) 15 1 Germany SC Kapellen-Erft
2DF Masih Saighani (1986-09-22) 22 September 1986 (age 38) 11 2 India Aizawl F.C.
2DF Modjieb Jamali (1991-04-30) 30 April 1991 (age 33) 6 0 Montenegro FK Dečić
2DF Sharif Mukhammad (1990-03-21) 21 March 1990 (age 34) 5 1 Sweden AFC Eskilstuna
2DF Milad Intezar (1992-11-04) 4 November 1992 (age 32) 4 0 Netherlands FC Lienden
2DF Benjamin Nadjem (1995-04-02) 2 April 1995 (age 29) 2 0 Germany FC St. Pauli II
3MF Ahmad Hatifi (1986-03-13) 13 March 1986 (age 38) 34 4 United States CD Aguiluchos USA
3MF Faysal Shayesteh (1991-06-21) 21 June 1991 (age 33) 29 7 unattached
3MF Abassin Alikhil (1991-04-19) 19 April 1991 (age 33) 28 0 Germany SC Hessen Dreieich
3MF Mustafa Zazai (1993-05-09) 9 May 1993 (age 31) 21 2 Germany Lüneburger SK Hansa
3MF Zubayr Amiri (1990-05-02) 2 May 1990 (age 34) 17 2 Germany SC Hessen Dreieich
3MF Omid Popalzay (1996-01-25) 25 January 1996 (age 28) 13 3 Netherlands Achilles '29
3MF Qays Shayesteh (1988-03-22) 22 March 1988 (age 36) 4 0 Netherlands DETO
3MF Farshad Noor (1994-10-02) 2 October 1994 (age 30) 3 0 Sweden AFC Eskilstuna
3MF Maziar Kouhyar (1997-09-30) 30 September 1997 (age 27) 0 0 England Walsall F.C.
4FW Balal Arezou (1988-12-28) 28 December 1988 (age 35) 23 9 Norway Asker
4FW Khaibar Amani (1987-02-06) 6 February 1987 (age 37) 15 6 Germany SC Hessen Dreieich
4FW Amredin Sharifi (1992-03-23) 23 March 1992 (age 32) 13 1 Afghanistan Shaheen Asmayee F.C.
4FW Jabar Sharza (1994-04-06) 6 April 1994 (age 30) 1 0 Denmark Fremad Amager

Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up to the Afghanistan squad within the last 12 months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Kawash Haidari (1992-03-03) 3 March 1992 (age 32) 0 0 Afghanistan Oqaban Hindukush F.C. v.  Cambodia, June 2017
GK Emal Gariwal (1984-09-28) 28 September 1984 (age 40) 3 0 Afghanistan Oqaban Hindukush F.C. Training camp March 2017 provisional squad
GK Ahmad Zohaib Aseel (1991-12-26) 26 December 1991 (age 32) 0 0 Afghanistan De Spin Ghar Bazan F.C. v.  Lebanon, 5 September 2016
DF Hosain Alizada (1996-01-01) 1 January 1996 (age 28) 0 0 Afghanistan Shaheen Asmayee F.C. v.  Cambodia, June 2017
DF Farzad Ataie (1991-12-30) 30 December 1991 (age 32) 10 0 Afghanistan Shaheen Asmayee F.C. v.  Singapore, 23 March 2017
DF Sayed Mohammad Hashemi (1994-03-02) 2 March 1994 (age 30) 10 1 Afghanistan Shaheen Asmayee F.C. v.  Singapore, 23 March 2017
DF Roholla Iqbalzadeh (1994-11-02) 2 November 1994 (age 30) 3 0 Norway Byåsen Toppfotball v.  Singapore, 23 March 2017
DF Manan Farahi (1993-10-19) 19 October 1993 (age 31) 0 0 Afghanistan De Maiwand Atalan F.C. Training camp March 2017 provisional squad
DF Qesmat Ahmadi (1996-08-13) 13 August 1996 (age 28) 1 0 Afghanistan Mawjhai Amu F.C. Training camp March 2017 provisional squad
DF Faisal Sakhizada (1990-06-15) 15 June 1990 (age 34) 17 0 Australia Kingston City FC Training camp March 2017 provisional squad
DF Anoush Dastgir RET (1989-11-27) 27 November 1989 (age 34) 6 0 unattached v.  Tajikistan, 13 November 2016
DF Selaab Ghafouri 0 0 United States CD Aguiluchos USA v.  Tajikistan, 13 November 2016
DF Haseeb Rahim 0 0 unattached v.  Malaysia, 11 October 2016
DF Omid Homauoni (1994-01-01) 1 January 1994 (age 30) 2 0 Afghanistan Shaheen Asmayee F.C. v.  Lebanon, 5 September 2016
DF Hassan Rahmani (1996-03-15) 15 March 1996 (age 28) 0 0 Norway Follo FK v.  Lebanon, 5 September 2016
MF Mustafa Azadzoy (1992-07-24) 24 July 1992 (age 32) 25 3 Thailand Chainat Hornbill v.  Cambodia, June 2017
MF Norlla AmiriINJ (1991-08-23) 23 August 1991 (age 33) 17 3 Sweden FC Rosengård 1917 v.  Cambodia, June 2017
MF Fardin Hakimi (1994-11-16) 16 November 1994 (age 30) 7 0 Afghanistan Toofaan Harirod F.C. v.  Cambodia, June 2017
MF Milad Salem (1988-03-03) 3 March 1988 (age 36) 5 0 Germany SV Elversberg v.  Singapore, 23 March 2017
MF Noor Husin (1997-03-03) 3 March 1997 (age 27) 0 0 England Crystal Palace F.C. Training camp March 2017 provisional squad
MF Saber Azizi (1996-01-13) 13 January 1996 (age 28) 1 0 Sweden Landskrona BoIS v.  Tajikistan, 13 November 2016
MF Edriss Hushmand (1999-05-02) 2 May 1999 (age 25) 1 0 Sweden BK Olympic v.  Tajikistan, 13 November 2016
MF Mohammad Mashriqi (1987-07-07) 7 July 1987 (age 37) 17 1 unattached v.  Malaysia, 11 October 2016
MF Rohid Samandary (1995-07-12) 12 July 1995 (age 29) 0 0 Afghanistan Shaheen Asmayee F.C. v.  Lebanon, 5 September 2016
FW Noor Zadran (1994-08-23) 23 August 1994 (age 30) 4 0 unattached v.  Cambodia, June 2017
FW Reza Allahyari 0 0 Afghanistan Shaheen Asmayee F.C. Training camp March 2017 provisional squad
FW Faiz Mohammad Faizi (1992-10-22) 22 October 1992 (age 32) 0 0 Afghanistan De Maiwand Atalan F.C. Training camp March 2017 provisional squad
FW Josef Shirdel (1993-04-03) 3 April 1993 (age 31) 3 1 Germany Dersimspor Training camp March 2017 provisional squad
FW Anwar Akbari (1993-08-02) 2 August 1993 (age 31) 5 0 Afghanistan Toofaan Harirod F.C. v.  Lebanon, 5 September 2016

Notes:

  • SUS Player suspended
  • INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury
  • RET Retired from the national team
  • WD Player withdrew from the squad for non-injury related reasons

Most capped players

Updated 17 June 2017.

Still active national team players are highlighted

# Player Period Caps Goals
1 Zohib Islam Amiri 2005–2015 42 5
2 Djelaludin Sharityar 2007–2015 38 1
3 Ahmad Hatifi 2011– 34 4
Mustafa Hadid 2007– 34 2
5 Faysal Shayesteh 2014– 30 7
6 Hashmatullah Barakzai 2007–2015 27 5
Israfeel Kohistani 2006–2013 27 1
Abassin Alikhil 2011– 27 0
9 Mansur Faqiryar 2011–2015 23 0
10 Balal Arezou 2011– 22 9

Top goalscorers

Updated 17 June 2017.

Still active national team players are highlighted

# Player Period Goals Caps
1 Balal Arezou 2011– 9 22
2 Faysal Shayesteh 2014– 7 30
3
Khaibar Amani 2015– 6 14
Sandjar Ahmadi 2011–2015 6 22
5 Zohib Islam Amiri 2005–2015 5 42
Hashmatullah Barakzai 2007–2015 5 27
Hafizullah Qadami 2003–2008 5 10
8
Harez Habib 2007–2013 4 16
Ahmad Hatifi 2011– 4 34
Sediq Walizada 2010–2014 4 10

Manager history

Updated 17 June 2017.

Manager Career Start Career End Played Won Drawn Lost Goals For Goals Against Win %
Unknown 1941 1974 Unknown
Soviet Union Salenko 1975 Unknown Unknown
Soviet Union Sergei Salnikov 1976 1977 Unknown
Soviet Union Nikolai Efimov 1976 1977 Unknown
Islam Gul 1978 1979 Unknown
Afghanistan Sayed Ahmad Zia Muzafari 1980 1981 Unknown
India Khwaja Aziz Unknown Unknown Unknown
Soviet Union Gennadi Sarychev 1987 1988 Unknown
War in Afghanistan 1988 2003 Unknown
Afghanistan Mir Ali Asghar Akbarzada 10 January 2003 18 March 2003 5 1 0 4 2 11 20%
Afghanistan Mohammad Yousef Kargar 19 November 2003 23 November 2003 2 0 0 2 0 13 0%
Germany Klaus Stärk 9 November 2005 8 June 2008 13 2 5 6 13 30 15%
Afghanistan Mohammad Yousef Kargar 30 July 2008 10 September 2013 30 13 5 12 40 43 43%
Germany Erich Rutemöller (Interim) 13 April 2014 29 May 2014 9 2 4 3 7 8 22%
Iran Hossein Saleh (Interim) 6 February 2015 7 February 2015 1 0 0 1 1 2 0%
Germany Slaven Skeledzic 28 May 2015 13 October 2015 8 2 1 5 6 21 25%
Croatia Petar Segrt 12 November 2015 11 October 2016 10 6 1 3 23 12 60%
Afghanistan Anoush Dastgir (Interim) 13 November 2016 14 November 2016 1 0 0 1 0 1 0%
Germany Otto Pfister 23 March 2017 Present 2 1 1 0 3 2 50%

Competitive record

As of 29 March 2017

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup record
Year Result Position Pld W T L GF GA
Uruguay 1930 Did Not Enter
Italy 1934
France 1938
Brazil 1950
Switzerland 1954
Sweden 1958
Chile 1962
England 1966
Mexico 1970
West Germany 1974
Argentina 1978
Spain 1982
Mexico 1986
Italy 1990
United States 1994
France 1998
South Korea Japan 2002
Germany 2006 Did Not Qualify
South Africa 2010
Brazil 2014
Russia 2018
Qatar 2022 TBD
Total Best: None 0 titles 0 0 0 0 0 0

AFC Asian Cup

Asian Cup record
Year Result Pld W T L GF GA
Hong Kong 1956 – Thailand 1972 Did Not Enter
Iran 1976 – Singapore 1984 Did Not Qualify
Qatar 1988 – Lebanon 2000 Did Not Enter
China 2004 Did Not Qualify
IndonesiaMalaysiaThailandVietnam 2007 – Australia 2015 Did Not Enter
United Arab Emirates 2019 TBD
Total Best: None 0 0 0 0 0 0

Summer Olympics

Young teams were favoured by FIFA and the IOC, and since 1992, male competitors must be under 23 years old, with three over-23 players allowed per squad.

Summer Olympics record
Year Result Pld W T L GF GA
France 1900 – Germany 1936 Did Not Enter
United Kingdom 1948 Preliminary 1 0 0 1 0 6
Finland 1952 Did Not Enter
Australia 1956 – Italy 1960 Withdrew
Japan 1964 – Greece 2004 Did Not Enter
China 2008 Did Not Qualify
United Kingdom 2012 Did Not Enter
Brazil 2016 Did Not Qualify
Japan 2020 TBD
Total Best: Preliminary 1 0 0 1 0 6

Asian Games

From 2002 onwards played by Afghanistan under-23 team.

Asian Games record
Year Result Pld W T L GF GA
India 1951 4th place 2 0 0 2 0 5
Philippines 1954 Group Stage 2 0 0 2 4 12
Japan 1958 – Thailand 1998 Did Not Enter
Qatar 2002 Group Stage 3 0 0 3 0 32
Qatar 2006 – China 2010 Did Not Enter
South Korea 2014 Group Stage 3 0 0 3 1 8
Indonesia 2018 TBA
Total Best: 4th place 10 0 0 10 5 57

AFC Challenge Cup (2006–2014)

AFC Challenge Cup record
Year Result Pld W T L GF GA
Bangladesh 2006 Group Stage 3 0 2 1 3 5
India 2008 Group Stage 3 0 0 3 0 10
Sri Lanka 2010 Withdrew
Nepal 2012 Did Not Qualify
Maldives 2014 4th place 5 1 2 2 4 4
Total Best: 4th place 11 1 4 6 7 19

SAFF Championship

SAFF Championship record
Year Result Pld W T L GF GA
Pakistan 1993 – India 1999 Did Not Enter
Bangladesh 2003 Group Stage 3 0 0 3 0 6
Pakistan 2005 Group Stage 3 1 0 2 3 11
MaldivesSri Lanka 2008 Group Stage 3 0 2 1 5 7
Bangladesh 2009 Group Stage 3 0 0 3 1 7
India 2011 Runners-Up 5 3 1 1 13 7
Nepal 2013 Champions 5 4 1 0 9 1
India 2015 Runners-Up 5 4 0 1 17 3
Bangladesh 2018 Did Not Enter
Total Best: Champions 27 12 4 11 48 42

South Asian Games

South Asian Games record
Year Result Pld W T L GF GA
Nepal 1984 – Nepal 1999 Did Not Enter
Pakistan 2004 Group Stage 3 0 0 3 1 7
Sri Lanka 2006 Group Stage 3 0 2 1 1 5
Bangladesh 2010 Runners-Up 3 3 0 0 5 1
India 2016 Did Not Enter
Total Best: Runners-Up 9 3 2 4 7 13

Honours

Regional

Champions (1): 2013
Runners-up (2): 2011,2015
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Silver Medal (1): 2010

Other

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Afghanistan will play their home matches in Tajikistan due to security concerns from the war in Afghanistan.

References

  1. ^ "FIFA Member Association Afghanistan". fifa.com. 14 March 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  2. ^ Afghanistan National Football Team by Afghan-web.com (Afghan-web)
  3. ^ Afghanistan at AFC Challenge Cup 2008 at AFC Website Archived 13 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ a b Afghan Football League Heads to First Semi-Final Archived 15 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine by Rezwan Natiq and Mir Sayed (Tolo News, 10 October 2012)
  5. ^ Roshan Afghan Premier League a hit with fans by Tahir Qadiry (BBC News, 22 September 2012)
  6. ^ "Talent search at Hindukush" (in German). fussball.de. 28 August 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
  7. ^ Amiri: Football brings Afghans together by FIFA (FIFA, 22 August 2013)
  8. ^ "Faqiryar: A real football fairytale". fifa.com. 6 May 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  9. ^ "Ahmadi reaping rewards for bravery". fifa.com. 22 October 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  10. ^ "Skeledzic: Afghan job my greatest challenge". fifa.com. 25 February 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  11. ^ "Otto Pfister, New Mentor For Afghanistan National Football Team". 12 February 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  12. ^ "Lions draw positives from defeat". TNP. 24 March 2017.
  13. ^ "AFC Asian Cup match: AFG-VIE". AFC. 28 March 2017.
  14. ^ Hummel presents new Afghanistan football shirt with hijab by Hummel (Hummel, 7 March 2016)
  15. ^ War and Football: The Story of Football’s Development in War-Torn Afghanistan by Huffingtonpost (13 February 2013)
  16. ^ FIFA programmes boost Afghan football by FIFA (FIFA, 8 April 2015)
  17. ^ 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification match: Afghanistan vs Vietnam by AFC (28 March 2017)
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