DUSHANBE (SW): Afghanistan lost friendly football match to Tajikistan 0-1 in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on Sunday.
Both sides failed to utilize the opportunities they got in the first half to score goal. In the second half however, the hosts managed to score a goal in the 73rd minute to score the decisive goal.
Prior to the match, Afghanistan’s very own Anosh Dastageer was been appointed as head coach of the national football squad to replace Petar Segrt; the Croatian-born German coach and former football defender. Dastageer was named as interim coach for the friendly encounter against Tajikistan. This followed the departure of Petar to Germany after completing his one year contract, and without disclosing the reasons behind not renewing the contract. It is worth noticing that prior to this development, Dastageer was named as a player in the 26 member squad.
The interim coach named the final squad against Tajikistan that included Owaiz Azizi as the goal keeper, Hassan Amin, Aarash Hatifi, Maseh Segani and Mujib Jamali as defenders Faisal Shaista, Kanishka Taher and Abasin Alikhail as mid-fielders while Noorullah Amiri and Melad Salim have been placed in the forward line. Afghanistan and Tajikistan are set to play the friendly international match on Sunday in Dushanbe.
This was the fifth time both teams are facing each other. So far, in the five matches played between the two, Afghanistan has lost all. Dastageer told journalists before the match that the Afghan side is set to showcase good performance. Faisal Shaista, the captain, said that the sudden departure of the national coach Petar Segrt has left negative impacts on the team. He however, asserted that the boys would do their best against Tajikistan.
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