Afghanistan Announces 23-Man Squad for CAFA 2025

DID Press: Afghanistan Football Federation named its 23-player squad for the upcoming Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) Championship 2025, where the Lions of Khorasan will face Iran in their opening Group B fixture.

Group B features four teams: Afghanistan, Iran, Tajikistan, and India. Afghanistan side, now under Italian head coach Vincenzo Alberto, has completed its final training camp and heads into the tournament looking to make a strong statement against one of Asia’s top footballing nations.

The match is set for Friday, August 29, 2025, at Hisor Stadium in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, with kickoff scheduled for 4:30 PM Kabul time.

Afghanistan suffered a heavy 6–1 defeat to Iran in their last meeting in 2023. However, with a revamped squad and new coaching leadership, the team is targeting a much-improved performance and a potential upset in their opening clash.