Afghanistan won SAFF Championship by defeating Defending champions India

New Delhi: Its a moment of pride and joy for Afghans all around the world as the national football team successfully justified their FIFA ranking and defeated the defending champions India in a night of joy and celebration in Nepal. Afghanistan defeated India by 2 goals and celebrated their first ever football title. 

Afghanistan entered the tournament as the highest ranked team placed at 139th and went on unbeatable by outplaying Bhutan, Sri Lanka and a draw with Maldives in group stage. At the semi finals it was a repeat of 2011 edition when they sent out Nepal by 1 goal of Sandjar Ahmadi in front of their own fans at Dashrath Stadium.  Goalkeeper Mansur Faqiryar played his best game ever in semi final against Nepal when he saved two back to back Penalty kicks of Nepal at the dying moments of the game. He again proved his worth when he saved numerous chances of India in the final. 

Afghanistan broken the lead as early as ninth minutes of the match with a goal of Mustafa Azadzoy who slotted home in right corner of the net as Indian defense failed to clear his shoot and goalie was helpless to touch away the ball. India had enough chances of goals to turn up the game to their favor but they failed to convert it to goals. Afghanistan took the chance once again when Sandjar Ahmadi slotted the second goal of the match at 62nd minutes of the match. 

This tournament proved to be the best tournament every Afghanistan participated as they celebrated their first ever title in their history in front of some of the parliamentarians and business mans from Afghanistan. On the other side whole Afghanistan was in joy and celebration as bullets of gun firing wen in the air to turn the celebration. Afghan president Hamid Karzai was with his colleagues watching the match from Presidential place. After the match he congratulated the players and the team for their effort and hard working with some cash prizes in hand. 

Yusuf Kargar, the main man behind recent success of Afghanistan was in full joy and praise for his players who had successfully took the revenge of last years drama in a night of records for Afghanistan and proved his diplomacy at the coaching level. His hard work and efforts for the team can not be ignored as he brought the best days in Afghanistan football.