Afghanistan national football team

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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 Khorasan
(شیران خراسان)
other nicknames
Association Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF)
Sub-confederation CAFA (Central-Asia)
Confederation AFC (Asia)
Head coach Petar Segrt
Captain Faysal Shayesteh
Most caps Djelaludin Sharityar (38)
Top scorer Balal Arezou (9)
Home stadium Ghazi Stadium and Afghanistan Football Federation Stadium
FIFA code AFG
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 153 Decrease 3 (7 January 2016)[1]
Highest 73 (August 1941)
Lowest 204 (January 2003)
First international
Afghanistan Afghanistan 1–3 India India
(Kabul, Afghanistan; 23 August 1941)

The Afghanistan National Football Team (Dari: تیم ملی فوتبال افغانستان) (Pashto: دافغانستان ملی فوتبال ټیم) popularly known as the Lions of Khorasan or the Lions of Afghanistan[2][3][4] is the national football team of Afghanistan and is controlled by the Afghanistan Football Federation. Founded in 1922, and played their first international game against India 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. Afghanistan won the 2013 SAFF Championship. Afghanistan also earned the "FIFA Fair Play Award" in 2013.

The current head coach of the Afghanistan national team is Petar Segrt.

History

Early History

Teens playing football inside the Ghazi Stadium, built during the 1920s under King Amanullah Khan.

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.[5] 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.

The country's first non-FIFA international match was played against British India on 23 August 1941, which Afghanistan lost the game, 1–3 at Ghazi Stadium in Kabul. 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 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 Soviet war in Afghanistan, Civil war in Afghanistan (1992–1996), and the Taliban regime.

2001–2010

Afghanistan national football team (in red uniform)

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.[6] 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 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.

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 campaign of world cup 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,[7] 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 only goal of Afghanistan against Maldives which they lost.

2011–2013

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 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.

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.

Afghanistan defeated Bhutan 5–0 in 2012 AFC Challenge Cup Qualification. In the first leg, they won 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. 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.[8][9]

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 Years 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.[10] 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. Mansur Faqiryar was named the best Player of the tournament, by his outstanding goal keeping skills throughout the tournament.

Sharityar in red shirt fighting against the ball with Sunil Chhetri during the 2011 SAFF Championship in India.

2014–present

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 countries 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." 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.[11] On 27 April 2015 the AFF signed a contract with a new sponsor called Alokozay Group of Companies. They will be featured on the shirts of the Afghan National Team. In October 2015 the AFF fired Skeledzic. After the 5-2 defeat against Syria he was resigned from his position. In November 2015, Afghanistan national team announced that they appointed Petar Segrt as the new head coach. Segrt promised he will use his experience and knowledge to develop football in Afghanistan. His first match as coach was against Cambodia. His impact and experience as a coach immediately worked. They won the match with 3-0 and played an outstanding match.

Nicknames

The Afghanistan national team has received several nicknames by supporters and media. The most common one used to refer the team is Lions of Khorasan. Many Afghans also prefer the nickname the Lions of Afghanistan because Khorasan was a historic region which lies mostly in parts of modern-day Iran and a small part in Afghanistan.

Kit

In 2002, the Japanese sports brand Asics was the sponsor for the Afghan Football Team till 2004. In the year 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.[12] In 2011 the Afghanistan Football Federation had signed a 4-year contract with Hummel, to provide both the Men's and the Women's National Team for all of the sportswear from 2011 till 2015. On 6 March 2015, the Afghan Football Federation signed a new 4-year contract with Hummel till 2019.

Period Kit provider
2002–2004 Japan Asics[13]
2005–2008 Germany Adidas[14]
2009–2019 DenmarkHummel

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. Built during the reign of King Amanullah Khan in 1923, the stadium has a capacity of around 25,000 people.[15] 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 Afghanistan Football Federation. The Afghan Premier League and other local football tournaments take place in the stadium.[16]

Recent results and fixtures

The following are Afghanistan's results and fixtures as of: 3 January 2016

Date Opponent Result Goal scorers Venue Competition
6 Feb 2015  Pakistan 1–2 (L) Sharifi (50') Punjab Football Stadium, Lahore, Pakistan International Friendly
29 May 2015  Laos 2–0 (W) Shayesteh (17'), Isoufi (37') New Laos National Stadium, Vientiane, Laos International Friendly
2 June 2015  Bangladesh 1–1 (D) Shanwary (90+3') Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka, Bangladesh International Friendly
11 June 2015  Syria 0–6 (L) Samen Stadium, Mashhad, Iran 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification and 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification
16 June 2015  Cambodia 1–0 (W) Zazai (87') Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh, Cambodia 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification and 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification
3 Sep 2015  Thailand 0–2 (L) Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand International Friendly
8 Sep 2015  Japan 0–6 (L) Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification and 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification
8 Oct 2015  Singapore 0–1 (L) National Stadium, Kallang, Singapore 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification and 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification
13 Oct 2015  Syria 2–5 (L) Amiri (44'), Shayesteh (78') Al-Seeb Stadium, Seeb, Oman 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification and 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification
12 Nov 2015  Cambodia 3−0 (W) Zazai (42'), Amiri (78'), Amani (90+4) Takhti Stadium, Tehran, Iran 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification and 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification
24 Dec 2015  Bangladesh 4−0 (W) Saighani (30'), Shayesteh (32'), Amiri (40'), Amani (69') Trivandrum International Stadium, Kariavattom, India 2015 SAFF Championship
26 Dec 2015  Bhutan 3−0 (W) Amani (14') (51'), Saighani (42') Trivandrum International Stadium, Kariavattom, India 2015 SAFF Championship
28 Dec 2015  Maldives 4−1 (W) Shayesteh (20'), Popalzay (34') (54'), Hatifi (51') Trivandrum International Stadium, Kariavattom, India 2015 SAFF Championship
31 Dec 2015  Sri Lanka 5−0 (W) Hashemi (45+2), Taher (50'), Amani (56'), Hatifi (78'), Shayesteh (89') Trivandrum International Stadium, Kariavattom, India 2015 SAFF Championship
3 Jan 2016  India 1−2 (L) Amiri (70') Trivandrum International Stadium, Kariavattom, India 2015 SAFF Championship
24 Mar 2016  Japan − − Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama, Japan 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification and 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification
29 Mar 2016  Singapore − − Samen Al-Aeme Stadium, Mashhad, Iran 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification and 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification

      Win       Draw       Loss

Personnel

Current Technical Staff

Current headcoach Petar Segrt.
Position Name
Head coach CroatiaPetar Segrt
Assistant coach Afghanistan Ali Askar Lali
Team Manager Afghanistan Mustafa Mehrzad
Goalkeeping Coach Germany Eric Siegfried Rasp
Physiotherapist Germany Hendrik Wolf
Video Analyzer Germany Przemyslaw Gomulka
Masseur Afghanistan Atiqullah Niaze

Current Squad

  • Opposition: Upcoming match against  Japan
  • Caps and goals correct as of: 3 January 2015
0#0 Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Ovays Azizi (1992-01-29) 29 January 1992 (age 32) 9 0 Denmark IF Skjold Birkerød
16 1GK Hamidullah Wakily (1993-01-01) 1 January 1993 (age 31) 0 0
22 1GK Fardeen Kohistani (1994-04-04) 4 April 1994 (age 30) 3 0 Afghanistan Shaheen Asmayee F.C.
23 1GK Mahboobullah Kakar (1994-08-03) 3 August 1994 (age 29) 0 0 Afghanistan Mawjhai Amu F.C.
3 2DF Hassan Amin (1991-10-12) 12 October 1991 (age 32) 12 0 Germany 1.FC Saarbrücken
4 2DF Roholla Iqbalzadeh (1994-11-02) 2 November 1994 (age 29) 3 0 Norway Byåsen Toppfotball
6 2DF Anoush Dastgir (1989-11-27) 27 November 1989 (age 34) 4 0 Netherlands FC Lienden
13 2DF Sayed Mohammad Hashemi (1994-03-02) 2 March 1994 (age 30) 6 1 Afghanistan Shaheen Asmayee F.C.
14 2DF Masih Saighani (1986-09-22) 22 September 1986 (age 37) 5 2 Germany TSV Steinbach
20 2DF Mustafa Hadid (1988-08-25) 25 August 1988 (age 35) 25 2 Germany Altona 93
26 2DF Omid Homauoni (1994-01-01) 1 January 1994 (age 30) 2 0 Afghanistan Oqaban Hindukush F.C.
29 2DF Abdullah Abdalli (1996-05-03) 3 May 1996 (age 28) 0 0 Afghanistan De Spin Ghar Bazan F.C.
2 3MF Abassin Alikhil (1991-04-19) 19 April 1991 (age 33) 19 0 Germany Viktoria Aschaffenburg
8 3MF Faysal Shayesteh (Captain) (1991-06-21) 21 June 1991 (age 32) 17 6 Thailand Songkhla United F.C.
11 3MF Norlla Amiri (1991-08-23) 23 August 1991 (age 32) 9 2 Sweden Trelleborgs FF
17 3MF Mustafa Zazai (1993-05-09) 9 May 1993 (age 31) 15 2 Germany FC St. Pauli II
18 3MF Ahmad Hatifi (1986-03-13) 13 March 1986 (age 38) 21 3 unattached
19 3MF Omid Popalzay (1996-01-25) 25 January 1996 (age 28) 7 2 Netherlands Achilles '29
21 3MF Kanischka Taher (1991-04-04) 4 April 1991 (age 33) 7 1 Germany SC Kapellen-Erft
44 3MF Rohid Samandary (1995-07-12) 12 July 1995 (age 28) 0 0 Afghanistan De Spin Ghar Bazan F.C.
7 4FW Zubayr Amiri (1990-05-02) 2 May 1990 (age 34) 8 2 Germany SC Hessen Dreieich
9 4FW Khaibar Amani (1987-02-06) 6 February 1987 (age 37) 9 5 Germany SC Hessen Dreieich
12 4FW Anwar Akbari (1993-08-02) 2 August 1993 (age 30) 4 0 Afghanistan Oqaban Hindukush F.C.
37 4FW Mustafa Afshar (1988-07-06) 6 July 1988 (age 35) 0 0 Afghanistan Shaheen Asmayee F.C.
42 4FW Fardin Hakimi (1994-11-16) 16 November 1994 (age 29) 3 0 Afghanistan Oqaban Hindukush F.C.

Recent Call Ups

The following players have been called up for Afghanistan over the past 12 months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Mansur Faqiryar (1986-01-03) 3 January 1986 (age 38) 18 0 unattached {{{latest}}}| v.  Cambodia, 16 June 2015
GK Morteza Alibeik (1989-05-08) 8 May 1989 (age 35) 0 0 Netherlands Setaragan {{{latest}}}| v.  Cambodia, 16 June 2015
GK Kawesh Haidari (1994-08-03) 3 August 1994 (age 29) 0 0 Afghanistan Mawjhai Amu F.C. {{{latest}}}| v.  Pakistan, 6 February 2015
DF Djelaludin Sharityar (1983-03-15) 15 March 1983 (age 41) 38 1 Bahrain Manama Club {{{latest}}}| v.  Cambodia, 12 November 2015
DF Zohib Islam Amiri (1987-05-02) 2 May 1987 (age 37) 33 5 India DSK Shivajians {{{latest}}}| v.  Pakistan, 6 February 2015
DF Faisal Sakhizada (1990-06-15) 15 June 1990 (age 33) 17 0 Australia Dandenong Thunder SC {{{latest}}}| v.  Japan, 8 August 2015
DF Zamir Daudi (1987-08-05) 5 August 1987 (age 36) 10 0 Germany Viktoria Aschaffenburg {{{latest}}}| v.  Cambodia, 12 November 2015
DF Sabahoon Qaume (1992-02-11) 11 February 1992 (age 32) 2 0 Denmark Kolding IF {{{latest}}}| v.  Cambodia, 16 June 2015
DF Sharif Mukhammad (1990-03-21) 21 March 1990 (age 34) 1 0 unattached {{{latest}}}| v.  Japan, 8 August 2015
MF Mustafa Azadzoy (1992-07-24) 24 July 1992 (age 31) 12 2 Germany TB Uphusen {{{latest}}}| v.  Syria, 11 June 2015
MF Esmat Shanwary (1993-10-03) 3 October 1993 (age 30) 3 1 Netherlands GVVV {{{latest}}}| v.  Syria, 11 June 2015
MF Shabir Isoufi (1992-03-09) 9 March 1992 (age 32) 3 1 Netherlands ASWH {{{latest}}}| v.  Bangladesh, 22 December 2015
MF Modaser Zekria (1990-06-26) 26 June 1990 (age 33) 1 0 Sweden IK Brage {{{latest}}}| v.  Cambodia, 16 June 2015
MF Sayed Ali Naser (1990-10-25) 25 October 1990 (age 33) 1 0 Afghanistan De Spin Ghar Bazan F.C. {{{latest}}}| v.  Pakistan, 6 February 2015
MF Mohammad Ahmadi (1994-08-10) 10 August 1994 (age 29) 0 0 Afghanistan Oqaban Hindukush F.C. {{{latest}}}| v.  Pakistan, 6 February 2015
FW Sandjar Ahmadi (1992-02-10) 10 February 1992 (age 32) 19 8 Germany Hamm United FC {{{latest}}}| v.  Cambodia, 16 June 2015
FW Hashmatullah Barakzai (1987-08-26) 26 August 1987 (age 36) 17 2 Afghanistan Shaheen Asmayee F.C. {{{latest}}}| v.  Pakistan, 6 February 2015
FW Amredin Sharifi (1992-03-23) 23 March 1992 (age 32) 4 1 Afghanistan Shaheen Asmayee F.C. {{{latest}}}| v.  Pakistan, 6 February 2015
FW Josef Shirdel (1993-04-03) 3 April 1993 (age 31) 0 0 Germany ETSV Weiche {{{latest}}}| v.  Bangladesh, 22 December 2015

|}

Honours

Asian Games

SAFF Championship

South Asian Games

AFC Challenge Cup

  • Fourth Place: 2014

FIFA Awards

Competition Records

FIFA World Cup Records

World Cup World Cup qualifications
Hosts/Year Result GP W D L GS GA Hosts/Year Round GP W D L GS GA
1930 to 2002 Did not enter 1930 to 2002 Did not enter
Germany 2006 Did not qualify - - - - - - Germany 2006 Round 1 2 0 0 2 0 13
South Africa 2010 Did not qualify - - - - - - South Africa 2010 Round 1 2 0 0 2 1 5
Brazil 2014 Did not qualify - - - - - - Brazil 2014 Round 1 2 0 0 2 1 3
Russia 2018 Did not qualify - - - - - - Russia 2018 Round 2 6 2 0 4 6 18
Total Did not qualify 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total Best: Round 2 12 2 0 10 8 39

AFC Asian Cup Records

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