The inaugural CAF Nation Cup got to the worst possible start in the first match of the 7 teams tournament between host Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan on Saturday when an official from the Afghan team forced his players to leave the pitch in protest at the goal Kyrgyzstan scored in the dying seconds of the match at minute 97.
After the goal, which seemed to be legitimate, the unruly official, possibly one of the coaches, entered the pitch and signaled that the ball was handled by Kyrgyzstan’s forward before scoring. Afghanistan players were ushered out by that official despite the fact that there were no strong protests from the Afghani players themselves, who played a respectable game until that time.
The host team found it difficult to penetrate the Afghan defenses who were quite solid at the back. They withstood the home team’s attacks until the 97th minute when a momentary lapse of concentration allowed the Kyrgyzstan forward to grab a loose ball in front of the Afghan center-back and beat the keeper. However, that zealot of an official had other ideas and was intent to spoil it for everyone. He accused the referee by signaling that he received money, shoved a few people around here including his own players, and then sarcastically clapped for the Kyrgyzstan players.
Leaving the pitch is an archaic act that you never see in football nowadays, but Afghanistan seems to be way out of touch with modern football realities. The referee and Kyrgyzstan team waited for the required legal time for the Afghan team to return for the restart. The match was called off after the failure of Afghanistan to honor their commitment.
In normal circumstances as per FIFA’s Laws of the Game, if a team leaves the pitch not completing a match in protest in an official soccer game, the opposing team is awarded a 3-0 victory
In addition to that, some tournament rules void all other match results and expel the team from the tournament. Afghanistan is facing possible expulsion from CAFA Nations Cup 2023
In this scenario, Team Melli will not be facing Afghanistan on the 13th of June as scheduled and will instead play the host on the 16th.
Match line up
Kyrgyzstan
#1 Erzhan Tokotaev; #10 Mirlan Murzaev , #3 Tamirlan Kozubaev , #4 Khristiian Brauzman, #8 Farkhat Musabekov, #11 Bekzkhan Sagynbaev, #12 Odilzhon A., #18 Kairat Zhyrgalbek Uulu, #23 Erbol Atabaev, #24 Eldar Moldozhunusov, #25 Atai Dzhumashev
SUBS
7 Rustamov
5 Akmatov
9 Batyrkanov
Duishobekov
AFGHANISTAN
#1 Faisal Ahmad Hamid, #4 Mahboob Hanifi, #3 Amanullah Dardari, #3 Hussain Alizadeh, #5 Farzad Ataei, #10 Mohammad Noman, #12 Moshtaq Baset, #15 Yar Mohammad Zakarkhil, #16 Taufee Skandari, #7 Yama Sherzad, #18 Amiruddin Sharifi
SUBS
20 Fareed
11 Hussain