Afghanistan is set to play Myanmar today (Tuesday, March 25) at 3:00 PM local time as part of the AFC Asian Cup qualifying round. The match will take place in Myanmar, which is also hosting Group E, where Afghanistan is placed alongside Pakistan, Syria, and the host nation.
However, the Afghan squad faces a setback as four key national players — Naeem Rahimi, Adam Ali Rostami, Payman Soltani, and Thomas Safari — have not yet arrived in Myanmar due to visa complications.
According to Mustafa Hashemi, spokesperson for the Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF), the list of national team players was submitted to Myanmar authorities 28 days ago to process the required visas. Despite the early submission, the host country has delayed issuing visas for several Afghan players, raising concerns just ahead of the match.
The AFF expressed disappointment over the issue, stating that the delay has affected team preparations at a crucial stage in the qualifiers. It remains unclear whether the players will be able to join the team before the next group matches.
Afghanistan will need to perform strongly in the remaining fixtures to secure a spot in the prestigious AFC Asian Cup, with tough competition expected from group rivals.
For breaking news and updates on Afghan sports and international tournaments, visit www.u.af regularly.
