KABUL (Pajhwok): The Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF) has announced a 23-member squad for the 2025 Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) Nations Cup.

In its statement, the AFF said Faisal Ahmad Hamidi, Issa Azizi and Keyvan Mottaqian have been called up as goalkeepers.

The defenders include Sharif Mohammad, Elias Mansour, Mahboob Hanifi, Ruhollah Iqbalzada, Amid Arezo, Syed Arif Akbar and Thomas Safari.

The midfield will be led by Zolfaqar Nazari, Rahmat Akbari, Yama Shirzad, Alireza Panahi, Mohammad Naeem Rahimi and Syed Mortaza Fatemi.

Forwards Tawafa Sikandari, Mosawer Ahadi, Qamaruddin Mazyar Kohyar, Hossain Zamani, Omid Mosavi, Habibollah Hotak and Bilal Arezo complete the lineup.

Afghanistan has been drawn into Group B alongside Iran, India, and host nation Tajikistan. The national team will face Iran in its opening match on August 29, Tajikistan on September 1 and India on September 4.

Group A features Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Oman, with their matches scheduled in Uzbekistan.

According to CAFA, the tournament will kick off on August 29 and run until September 8.

hz/sa

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