KATHMANDU: Revenge-seeking Afghanistan broke India’s stranglehold on the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) title with an impressive 2-0 win over the two-time defending champions in Kathmandu yesterday.
The sturdy Afghans never looked back after Mustafa Azadzoy put them ahead in the ninth minute of the fast-paced final, with Sandjar Ahmadi extending the lead in the 62nd minute.
An estimated 5,000 fans at Dasarath Rangasala Stadium in the Nepalese capital were treated to attacking football in a repeat of the previous final in 2011 in New Delhi between the same teams.
The Afghans had publicly spoken about their intention to seek revenge for the humiliating 4-0 loss to India in that final, which they blamed on poor supervision by the referee.
Mission accomplished, the Afghan squad led by coach Yousef Kargar danced on the field with their nation’s flag held aloft, before doing a lap of honour in front of an appreciative crowd.
“You can’t imagine how big this moment is for our country, our fans, our team and me,” Kargar said. “This was an important game for us, and not just because we wanted to take revenge.
“We have proved that we belong in the world of football. Our team has improved a lot over the last few years and I am sure we will get better in the years to come.”
It was Afghanistan’s maiden victory in the SAFF tournament, while India has won the event six times. AFP
