AFC Challenge Cup

Last updated

AFC Challenge Cup
AFC Challenge Cup.svg
Organising body AFC
Founded2006;18 years ago (2006)
Abolished2014;10 years ago (2014)
Region Asia
Number of teams8 (final stage)
Related competitions AFC Solidarity Cup
Last championsFlag of Palestine.svg  Palestine (1st title)
Most successful team(s)Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea (2 titles)

The AFC Challenge Cup was an international football competition for Asian Football Confederation (AFC) member countries that was categorised as "emerging countries" in the "Vision Asia" programme. [1] It was created by former AFC president Mohammed Bin Hammam as the AFC's plan for a continent-wide programme to raise the standards of Asian football. [2] The AFC Challenge Cup was created for teams to experience playing in a continental competition, with the possibility to win an AFC trophy and potentially discover new talents. [3]

Contents

The inaugural tournament was hosted by Bangladesh in 2006 and was held biennially. An amendment to men's national team competitions in July 2006, meant that starting with the 2008 and 2010 editions of the AFC Challenge Cup, the winners automatically qualify for the AFC Asian Cup. [4]

In the 2011 and 2015 AFC Asian Cup tournaments, two qualification spots have been allocated to the two most recent AFC Challenge Cup winners. The 2014 tournament was the last edition of this competition, due to the expansion of the Asian Cup to the 24-nations format from the 16-nations one after the 2015 edition. [5] [6] In April 2016, due to several associations requesting a new competition to replace the Challenge Cup as they were having problems arranging friendly matches, the AFC created the AFC Solidarity Cup. [7] [8]

Selection of teams

The AFC initially divided their 46 member nations into three groups in 2006. Although the tournament was meant for the countries of emerging associations class, some countries from the developing associations class have participated in the qualification and the finals of the tournament such as India, Maldives, Myanmar, North Korea, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. As a result, only one team from the emerging class ever won the tournament, Palestine in 2014. In late March 2012, the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association, although only an associate member of the AFC, was approved to enter their national team in the competition. [9] In November 2012, the AFC announced North Korea's exclusion from future AFC Challenge Cups. [10]

The top 15 are classed as developed associations:

The next 14 are classed as developing associations:

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Eligible in the AFC Challenge Cup
Former participants AFC Challenge Cup Eligibility Map.svg
  Eligible in the AFC Challenge Cup
  Former participants

The last 17 are classed as emerging associations, which need time to develop their football. They are eligible in the AFC Challenge Cup. These are the teams which participate:

Results

YearHostFinalLosing semi-finalistsNumber of teams
WinnerScoreRunner-up
2006
Details
Flag of Bangladesh.svg
Bangladesh
Flag of Tajikistan.svg
Tajikistan
4–0 Flag of Sri Lanka.svg
Sri Lanka
Flag of Kyrgyzstan (2023).svg  Kyrgyzstan and Flag of Nepal.svg    Nepal 16
YearHostFinalThird place matchNumber of teams
WinnerScoreRunner-upThird placeScoreFourth place
2008
Details
Flag of India.svg
India
Flag of India.svg
India
4–1 Flag of Tajikistan.svg
Tajikistan
Flag of North Korea.svg
North Korea
4–0Flag of Myanmar (1974-2010).svg
Myanmar
8
2010
Details
Flag of Sri Lanka.svg
Sri Lanka
Flag of North Korea.svg
North Korea
1–1 (a.e.t.)
(5–4 pens.)
Flag of Turkmenistan.svg
Turkmenistan
Flag of Tajikistan.svg
Tajikistan
1–0Flag of Myanmar (1974-2010).svg
Myanmar
8
2012
Details
Flag of Nepal.svg
Nepal
Flag of North Korea.svg
North Korea
2–1 Flag of Turkmenistan.svg
Turkmenistan
Flag of the Philippines.svg
Philippines
4–3Flag of Palestine.svg
Palestine
8
2014
Details
Flag of Maldives.svg
Maldives
Flag of Palestine.svg
Palestine
1–0 Flag of the Philippines.svg
Philippines
Flag of Maldives.svg
Maldives
1–1 (a.e.t.)
(8–7 pens.)
Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg
Afghanistan
8

Most successful teams

TeamChampionRunners-upThird placeFourth place
Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea 2 (2010, 2012)1 (2008)
Flag of Tajikistan.svg  Tajikistan 1 (2006)1 (2008)1 (2010)
Flag of Palestine.svg  Palestine 1 (2014)1 (2012)
Flag of India.svg  India 1 (2008)
Flag of Turkmenistan.svg  Turkmenistan 2 (2010, 2012)
Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 1 (2014)1 (2012)
Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka 1 (2006)
Flag of Kyrgyzstan (2023).svg  Kyrgyzstan 1 (2006^)
Flag of Nepal.svg    Nepal 1 (2006^)
Flag of Maldives.svg  Maldives 1 (2014)
Flag of Myanmar.svg  Myanmar 2 (2008, 2010)
Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg  Afghanistan 1 (2014)

Participating nations

The participating countries of the AFC Challenge Cup and their number of appearances in the tournament.

4 appearances
3 appearances
2 appearances
1 appearance
Never qualified
Ineligible
Not an associate member of AFC AFC Challenge Cup Appearances.svg
The participating countries of the AFC Challenge Cup and their number of appearances in the tournament.
  4 appearances
  3 appearances
  2 appearances
  1 appearance
  Never qualified
  Ineligible
  Not an associate member of AFC
Legend

For each tournament, the number of teams in each of the finals tournament are shown.

Teams 2006
(16)
2008
(8)
2010
(8)
2012
(8)
2014
(8)
Years
Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg  Afghanistan GSGS×4th3
Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh QFGS2
Flag of Bhutan.svg  Bhutan GS1
Flag of Brunei.svg  Brunei GS××1
Flag of Cambodia.svg  Cambodia GS1
Flag of Chinese Taipei (Olympics; 1986-2010).svg  Chinese Taipei QF1
Flag of Guam.svg  Guam GS1
Flag of India.svg  India 1stGS2
Flag of India.svg India U20 QF1
Flag of India.svg India U23 GS1
Flag of Kyrgyzstan (2023).svg  Kyrgyzstan SFGSGS3
Flag of Laos.svg  Laos ×GS1
Flag of Macau.svg  Macau GS1
Flag of Maldives.svg  Maldives GS3rd2
Flag of Mongolia.svg  Mongolia ×0
Flag of Myanmar.svg  Myanmar 4th4thGS3
Flag of Nepal.svg    Nepal SFGSGS3
Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea 3rd1st1st3
Flag of the Northern Mariana Islands.svg  Northern Mariana Islands 0
Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan GS1
Flag of Palestine.svg  Palestine QF×4th1st3
Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines GS3rd2nd3
Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka 2ndGSGS3
Flag of Tajikistan.svg  Tajikistan 1st2nd3rdGS4
Flag of East Timor.svg  Timor-Leste ×××××0
Flag of Turkmenistan.svg  Turkmenistan GS2nd2ndGS4

Champions by region

Federations (Region)ChampionsTitlesYears
EAFF (East Asia)Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea 2 2010, 2012
WAFF (West Asia)Flag of Palestine.svg  Palestine 1 2014
CAFA (Central Asia)Flag of Tajikistan.svg  Tajikistan 1 2006
SAFF (South Asia)Flag of India.svg  India 1 2008
AFF (South East Asia)

Summary

AFC Challenge Cup (2006-2014)

RankTeamPartMWDLGFGAGDPoints
1Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea 3151221354+3138
2Flag of Tajikistan.svg  Tajikistan 41911263616+2034
3Flag of Turkmenistan.svg  Turkmenistan 4168442714+1328
4Flag of Palestine.svg  Palestine 314833298+2127
5Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 3136341814+421
6Flag of India.svg  India 4155371321-818
7Flag of Kyrgyzstan (2023).svg  Kyrgyzstan 311506712-515
8Flag of Myanmar.svg  Myanmar 3135081522-715
9Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka 3124261222-1014
10Flag of Nepal.svg    Nepal 3113261114-311
11Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh 273131013-310
12Flag of Maldives.svg  Maldives 28224912-38
13Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg  Afghanistan 311155719-128
14Flag of Chinese Taipei (Olympics; 1986-2010).svg  Chinese Taipei 1412135-25
15Flag of Brunei.svg  Brunei 131112204
16Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan 1311134-14
17Flag of Cambodia.svg  Cambodia 1310246-23
18Flag of Bhutan.svg  Bhutan 1301203-31
19Flag of Macau.svg  Macau 1301228-61
20Flag of Laos.svg  Laos 1301217-61
21Flag of Guam.svg  Guam 13003017-170

AFC Challenge Cup (Qualification) (2008-2014)

RankTeamPartMWDLGFGAGDPoints
1Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 4137332311+1224
2Flag of Afghanistan (2013-2021).svg  Afghanistan 310622104+620
3Flag of Turkmenistan.svg  Turkmenistan 38611283+2519
4Flag of Tajikistan.svg  Tajikistan 39612152+1319
5Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka 4125342818+1018
6Flag of Myanmar.svg  Myanmar 39522168+817
7Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan 4125252621+517
8Flag of Kyrgyzstan (2023).svg  Kyrgyzstan 4105231210+217
9Flag of Palestine.svg  Palestine 38440162+1416
10Flag of Nepal.svg    Nepal 410442126+616
11Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh 4115151410+416
12Flag of Maldives.svg  Maldives 26411156+913
13Flag of India.svg  India 26411134+713
14Flag of Chinese Taipei (Olympics; 1986-2010).svg  Chinese Taipei 4143472224-213
15Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea 1330070+79
16Flag of Cambodia.svg  Cambodia 4123091335-229
17Flag of Mongolia.svg  Mongolia 37214611-57
18Flag of Laos.svg  Laos 25131910-16
19Flag of Macau.svg  Macau 41220101129-186
20Flag of Guam.svg  Guam 26105727-203
21Flag of Brunei.svg  Brunei 26015222-201
22Flag of Bhutan.svg  Bhutan 38017124-231
23Flag of the Northern Mariana Islands.svg  Northern Mariana Islands 13003019-190

Awards

Most valuable player

YearPlayer
2006 Flag of Tajikistan.svg Ibrahim Rabimov
2008 Flag of India.svg Bhaichung Bhutia
2010 Flag of North Korea.svg Ryang Yong-Gi
2012 Flag of North Korea.svg Pak Nam-Chol
2014 Flag of Palestine.svg Murad Ismail

Top scorer

YearPlayerGoals
2006 Flag of Palestine.svg Fahed Attal 8
2008 Flag of North Korea.svg Pak Song-Chol 6
2010 Flag of North Korea.svg Ryang Yong-Gi 4
2012 Flag of the Philippines.svg Phil Younghusband 6
2014 Flag of Palestine.svg Ashraf Nu'man 4

Winning coach

YearCountryCoach
2006 Flag of Tajikistan.svg  Tajikistan Flag of Tajikistan.svg Sharif Nazarov
2008 Flag of India.svg  India Flag of England.svg Bob Houghton
2010 Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea Flag of North Korea.svg Jo Tong-sop
2012 Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea Flag of North Korea.svg Yun Jong-su
2014 Flag of Palestine.svg  Palestine Flag of Jordan.svg Jamal Mahmoud

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