A 1–1 draw against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi ended Afghanistan’s hopes of qualifying for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, capping a disappointing campaign marked by missed chances and growing discontent over football leadership.
Kuwait | By Sayer Zaland
Afghanistan’s national football team failed to qualify for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup after drawing 1–1 with Pakistan in their final Group E qualifier on Monday night. The result, coming after a goalless draw in the first leg in Islamabad, confirmed Afghanistan’s early elimination from the tournament.
Forward Mahboob Hanifi scored Afghanistan’s only goal in the first half, giving fans brief hope, but Pakistan equalized in the second half to secure a share of the points. The draw left Afghanistan winless in the qualifiers, having collected only two points from four matches.
The outcome drew frustration and disappointment across Afghan football circles. Veteran sports journalist Firooz Mashoof wrote sharply on social media: “You managed to defeat the people, the fans, the media, the players, and the veterans. In a world where falsehood often triumphs over truth, congratulations on this great achievement. The national team failed to qualify for the Asian Cup, but you silenced all critics, even FIFA and the AFC, and remain the ‘honorable president’ of our federation. You remained president, are you still popular too?”
Fan reactions were equally critical. Football supporter Obaid Esmati said: “The only solution for progress in Afghan football is to remove the corrupt officials from the federation, especially Yousuf Kargar. This is the demand of all the people, fans, and key players. The return of Anoush Dastgir is essential if we want to rebuild and bring back talented players who left the team.”
Football analyst Ali Jawad Ataiee echoed the anger, targeting long-time federation chief Yousuf Kargar:
“Because Kargar is called the ‘symbol of pride,’ even if these insults ever turn real, he wouldn’t flinch. But the day he retires and can no longer betray the game, he will feel the pain of guilt, because leaving old habits is hard.”
Meanwhile, another fan, Khwaja Basir Sadat, reflected on how arrogance and mismanagement derailed Afghan football’s progress: “In 2013, Afghanistan became South Asia’s champion, and FIFA invited Kargar’s staff. But pride and arrogance took over, and since then, there’s been no growth, only greed and self-promotion. We’ve stayed silent too long. FIFA only knows Kargar, and that’s why he remains in power. We need collective criticism and a genuine transformation.”
Afghanistan, grouped with Pakistan, Myanmar, and Syria, endured a difficult qualifying campaign. Losses to Myanmar and Syria earlier in the year left the team with little margin for error. Two subsequent draws against Pakistan sealed their fate, leaving Afghanistan at the bottom of the group with no wins and only two points.
The failure marks another missed opportunity for a generation of players who have struggled under administrative turmoil, limited preparation, and internal disputes within the Afghanistan Football Federation.
With the 2027 Asian Cup dream over, Afghan fans are now calling not just for new leadership but a complete reform of football management, a message that has grown louder than ever after Abu Dhabi.
