By Wahid Jazim, ASJF Football Commission
Uzbekistan claimed the title of the second edition of the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) tournament after defeating Iran.
The CAFA Championship concluded yesterday, September 8, at the Olympic Stadium in Tashkent, with Uzbekistan crowned champions after overcoming Iran. India defeated Oman in the third-place playoff to secure third position.
The tournament was held in two groups across two countries, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan
Group A included Uzbekistan, Oman, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan.
Group B included Iran, Afghanistan, India, and Tajikistan.
Uzbekistan, the New CAFA Champions
Uzbekistan’s national football team started the tournament with a 1-1 draw against Oman but went on to defeat Turkmenistan 2-1 and Kyrgyzstan 4-0 in the next two matches, booking their place in the final.
The final, held yesterday in Tashkent, ended goalless in regular time, pushing the match into extra time. In the 120th minute, Ilijanov scored the decisive goal against Iran, giving Uzbekistan the victory. The team not only won the championship but also avenged their previous defeat against Iran in the earlier edition.
Iran Fails to Defend Its Title
Before the start of CAFA, most Iranian media outlets and football analysts believed the tournament was below Iran’s standard, claiming Iran would easily dominate and win the title without challenge.
Iran indeed defeated Afghanistan 3-1 and India 3-0, but was held to a 2-2 draw against Tajikistan. In the final match, Iran was beaten by Uzbekistan in the dying minutes of extra time, finishing as runners-up instead of repeating their championship glory.
Afghanistan and Another Disappointing Tournament
Afghanistan began its CAFA campaign against defending champions Iran, losing 3-1 in what was also the debut of new head coach Vincenzo Alberto.
Afghan fans had hoped for better performances against Tajikistan and India to keep qualification hopes alive. However, Afghanistan lost 2-0 to Tajikistan and was held to a 0-0 draw against India, exiting the tournament with only one point and just one goal, scored by Omid Mousavi.
Many observers believe the main reason behind Afghanistan’s weak results is the poor management of the Afghanistan Football Federation rather than the players or coaches themselves.
Over the past few years, Afghanistan has frequently changed coaches but continues to fail to deliver results. Experts and fans argue that with the current leadership, Afghan football will continue to decline.
Among the key problems cited are:
Lack of a standard, regular football league in Afghanistan.
Failure to invite key Afghan players abroad due to personal politics.
No proper planning or strategy for long-term football development.
Opportunities and Challenges
The CAFA Championship ended with Uzbekistan as champions, but for Afghanistan, the tournament highlighted persistent challenges. It remains unclear when Afghanistan will finally address these issues and capitalize on opportunities to achieve better results in the future.
