Solano praises Pak players ahead of Asian Cup qualifier

The Peruvian coach also called for greater public support for football in Pakistan

Pakistan head coach Nolberto Solano praised his players’ commitment and passion ahead of their AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifier against Afghanistan, saying many had overcome difficult circumstances to represent their country.

“The players have worked very hard, and tomorrow is a very important day for us,” Solano said. “I believe the team will perform well against Afghanistan, they have shown great effort and commitment.”

Pakistan completed their final training session in Islamabad, with Solano confident his side is ready for a strong contest. “The players have trained intensely and are improving every day,” he added.

Pakistan will face Afghanistan in their AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifier on Thursday 2:00pm at the Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad.

Solano highlighted that many members of the national squad come from street football backgrounds and have developed their skills with limited resources. “They have little support or facilities, yet they play with incredible passion and skill,” he said.

The Peruvian coach also called for greater public backing for football in Pakistan. “Like cricket, football in Pakistan needs public support. As a coach, my full effort is to help improve Pakistan’s FIFA ranking,” he said.

Solano, who took charge of the team earlier this year, said he was impressed with the talent in the squad and hoped for more opportunities for Pakistani players to face stronger opposition in the future.

Where Pakistan stands on the table in 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers?

Pakistan and Afghanistan are at the bottom of Group E of the 2027 AFC Asian Qualification third round.

Syria have already progressed into the next round as the winner of the group. They have joined the 18 teams that have directly qualified for the final tournament..

Pakistan will play their away match with Afghanistan on October 14 in Kuwait. After it, their remaining game will be against Myanmar on March 31, 2026.