The Afghanistan national football team 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 and earned the "FIFA Fair Play Award". Afghanistan has never qualified for the AFC Asian Cup.
Imran Hussain, is a Pakistani former footballer who played as a striker. He played for Pakistan Army throughout his career, and made his international debut in 2005 against India. Hussain won the golden boot in 2005–06 Pakistan Premier League season, scoring 21 goals in 22 games.
Sunil Chhetri is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a forward and captains both Indian Super League club Bengaluru and the India national team. He is known for his link-up play, goal scoring abilities, and leadership. He is the third-highest international goalscorer among active players, behind only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi,, and is also the most-capped player and the all-time top goalscorer of the India national team. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest Indian and South Asian footballers of all time for his contributions for the country.
Ali Ashfaq is a Maldivian professional footballer who plays as a forward and captains the Maldives national team. Nicknamed "Man of Steel", he is regarded as one of the best players in the South Asian region. A prolific and individualistic goalscorer, he is a free-kick specialist and a clinical finisher. His trademark style of scoring is beating the defenders and rounding off the keeper to score. He is considered as the best Maldivian footballer ever, most notably when he was named as the "World's 2nd best top goal scorer" in 2013 by IFFHS. He was also named as South Asia's Best Player in 2014 by eultimategoal.com. In March 2016, Ashfaq scored his 50th goal for Maldives.
Jadid Khan Pathan is a Pakistani footballer who plays as a midfielder for Pakistan Premier League club Afghan Chaman, which he captains. He has also played for Pakistan at international level, earning his first international cap during the 2008 SAFF Cup against the Maldives. Khan won the Pakistan Premier League Golden Boot in the 2011–12 season, after finishing as top-scorer.
Nirmal Chettri is an Indian footballer who plays mainly as a defender and last played for Southern Samity in the Calcutta Football League.
Chongtham Sushil Kumar Singh is an India football player. He is currently playing for NEROCA F.C. in Manipur's local statewide league.
Zohib Islam Amiri is an Afghan professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for A.S. Blainville and the Afghanistan national team.
Sandjar Ahmadi is a footballer from Afghanistan who currently plays for Hamm United FC and the Afghanistan national football team. He scored two goals against Sri Lanka in 2011 SAFF Championship, helping the national team win 3–1. Ahmadi scored the winning goal against Laos in the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers. He scored against Pakistan in a friendly on 20 August 2013. He scored the winning goal against Nepal in the 2013 SAFF Championship to take his nation to the finals. In the final, he scored the winning goal, beating India to earn his country's first ever FIFA tournament win. The team was also granted $50,000 US dollars for being the champions. In an interview with Afghanistan's captain Zohib Islam Amiri, Amiri said "He is a great player, and we couldn't have won this without him."
Muhammad Ahmed Islam is a Pakistani former professional footballer who played as a centre back.
Toofan Harirod is an Afghan professional football club. It last played in the Afghan Premier League.
Faysal Shayesteh is an Afghan professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for I-League club Sreenidi Deccan and the Afghanistan national team.
The 2013 Afghan Premier League was the second season of Afghan Premier League, the Afghan league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 2012. The season began on 22 August 2013 with the group stage and ended with the final on 11 October 2013. Toofaan Harirod head into the season as the defending champions. In the final, Shaheen Asmayee F.C. won their first title, beating Simorgh Alborz F.C., 3–1, in extra time.
The 2013 SAFF Championship Final was the final match of the 2013 SAFF Championship which took place in Nepal on Wednesday, September 11, 2013, and was officiated by Tayeb Hasan Shamsuzzaman of Bangladesh. It was the 10th installment of the tournament since its inception in 1993.
Ahmad Arash Hatifi is a professional football player who is a midfielder and currently plays for Oakland Stompers. Born in the United States, he has also represented the Afghanistan national team.
Mohammad Marouf Jamhour Mohammadi is an Afghan footballer who currently plays for Toofaan Harirod F.C., and the Afghanistan national football team. He wears number 17 shirt and plays as a midfielder.
Mohammad Rafi Barekzay is an Afghan footballer who plays as a midfielder for Toofaan Harirod F.C. in the Afghan Premier League. Barekzay has also played for the Afghanistan national team.
Vishal Kaith is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Indian Super League club Mohun Bagan.
Topu Barman is a Bangladeshi professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Bangladesh Premier League club Bashundhara Kings, which he captains, and the Bangladesh national team.
Himanshu Jangra is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a forward for I-League club Delhi.
