Afghan football fans celebrate winning the South Asian Football Federation championship after their team defeated India during the final match, in the streets of Kabul September 12, 2013. PHOTO: REUTERS
Thousands of fans – including the president – yesterday gathered to cheer Afghanistan’s victorious national football team as they returned home after winning the war-wracked country’s first international football trophy.
The team stunned six-time champions India 2-0 Wednesday night to win the South Asian Football Federation (Saff) title in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu. The victory was a rare moment of joy in Afghanistan, where a war is being fought for the last 12 years.
President Hamid Karzai heralded the team’s ‘historic victory’ as he welcomed each player individually at the Kabul international airport, where fans waved flags and blew horns.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 13th, 2013.
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