Kathmandu : India’s hopes of a hat-trick of SAFF Cup football titles ended in a 0-2 loss to a dominant Afghanistan in the final at the packed Dasarath Stadium here Wednesday.
For Afghanistan, winning the title was sweet revenge for the 2011 loss to India in the controversial final in Delhi.
This time, Afghanistan were determined to win the title. They took the lead in the eighth minute through Mustafa Azadzoy and doubled it in the 63rd minute through star striker Belal Arezou.
A host of Afghan parliamentarians had flown down from Kabul to cheer for the team and they announcing an apartment and $25,000 each for the entire squad for winning the title.