2023 CAFA Nations Cup

[Rooyintan]

Less than a month away from the tournament.

Let's post all lineups and news here.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_CAFA_Nations_Cup

Games to watch for:

13 June 2023 Iran vs Afghanistan (Group B in Bishkek)

16 June 2023 Kyrgyzstan vs Iran (Group B in Bishkek)

20 June 2023 A2 vs B2 (Third Place match in Tashkent)

20 June 2023 A1 vs B1 (Final match in Tashkent)

[Rooyintan]

Kyrgyzstan pre-tournament squad of 33 players announced.

Goalkeepers:

• Tokotaev Erzhan ("Caspian", Kazakhstan).
• Kochenkov Anton (Arsenal Tula, Russia).
• Chomoev Sultan ("Dordoi").
• Pryadkin Artem ("Dordoi").

Defenders:

• Kichin Valery (Yenisei, Russia).
• Brauzman Khristian ("Abdysh-Ata").
• Akmatov Aizar ("Abdysh-Ata").
• Mishchenko Alexander ("Dordoi").
• Zhyrgalbek uulu Kairat ("Aksu", Kazakhstan).
• Kozubaev Tamirlan (Eastern, Hong Kong).
• Sagynbaev Bekzhan (Kitchie, Hong Kong).
• Baimatov Azamat ("Alga").
• Mamyraliev Suyuntbek ("Dordoi").
• Izakov Kairat ("Abdysh-Ata").

Midfielders:

• Atabaev Erbol (Dynamo Russia).
• Abdurakhmanov Odiljon (Maktaaral, Kazakhstan).
• Rustamov Tursunali ("Dordoi").
• Davydov Nikolai (Ismaning, Germany).
• Alykulov Gulzhigit (without a club).
• Uzdenov Magamed ("Alga").
• Jalilov Raul ("Alga").
• Dzhumashev Atay ("Abdysh-Ata").
• Merck Kai (Union-Titus-Petange, Luxembourg).
• Duishobekov Baktyar (Muras United).
• Musabekov Farhat ("Abdysh-Ata").
• Azarov Azim ("Abdysh-Ata").

Forwards:

• Moldozhunusov Eldar ("Neftchi").
• Joel Kozho (Dynamo Samarkand, Uzbekistan).
• Batyrkanov Ernist (Kelantan United, Malaysia).
• Murzaev Mirlan (no club).
• Almazbekov Beknaz (Galatasaray, Türkiye).
• Zemlyanukhin Anton ("Alga").
• Alygulov Maksat ("Abdysh-Ata").

Head Coach: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%A0tefan_Tarkovi%C4%8D

Star players to watch for:


The veteran and danger man: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirlan_Murzayev

Goal scoring defender: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valery_Kichin

Young footballer from Galatasaray: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beknaz_Almazbekov

[peiman92]

We will play Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Oman/Uzbekistan. Thats 3 friendlies. I heard Taj say in an interview today that an african team will be added to our group.

That means the schedule will likely look like this:

11 June: Iran-African team
14 June: Iran-Afghanistan
17 June: Iran-Kyrgyzstan
20 June: Iran-Uzbekistan/Oman

[Babak_Shirazi]

We will play Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Oman/Uzbekistan. Thats 3 friendlies. I heard Taj say in an interview today that an african team will be added to our group.

That means the schedule will likely look like this:

11 June: Iran-African team
14 June: Iran-Afghanistan
17 June: Iran-Kyrgyzstan
20 June: Iran-Uzbekistan/Oman

Watching Team Melli play on my birthday is always nice 😎🇮🇷 lets hope for an decent african team and I‘m also looking forward to the squad selection

[Rooyintan]

Afghanistan Football Team squad

Goalkeepers:

Faisal Ahmad Hamidi, Abdul Musawer Attai, Golali Rahimi

Other players:

Alireza Mayel, Samir Samandari, Khayam Shir Del, Omid Musawi, Fareed Sadat,
Munir Ahmad Halimi, Ali Baset Nazari, Mohammad Noman Walizada, Amanullah Sardari,
Ramez Farooq, Hussain Alizada, Musawer Ahadi, Yar Mohammad Zakarkhil, Mahboob Hanifi,
Mohammad Rueed Samandari, Farzad Ataie, Hasibullah Ahadi, Farshad Noor, Hossein Zamani,
Yama Sherzad, Mohammad Kanescka Sultani, Amiruddin Sharifi, Moshtaq Baset, Talifee Skandari

source: https://www.instagram.com/theaffofficial/

Head Coach: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdullah_Al_Mutairi

Ever since Taliban took over, many of Afghanistan's European and North American based players have left the national team. The current team are mostly Afghanistan based, only two notable players are:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farshad_Noor

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amredin_Sharifi

I hope Ghalenoi gives game time to uncapped and bench players against Afghanistan. There is no need to face Afghanistan with EU based players or Team Melli veterans.

[Rooyintan]

19 June 2023: Afghanistan vs Sarafan Herat 2:1 friendly match in Herat

Goals for Afghanistan: Samir Samandari and Yar Mohammad Zakarkhil

Goal for Sarafan Herat: Khaled Barakzai

Afghanistan will be having a national team camp in Saudi Arabia. They might play Saudi clubs.

[Rooyintan]

Watching Team Melli play on my birthday is always nice 😎🇮🇷 lets hope for an decent african team and I‘m also looking forward to the squad selection

Majority of Africa's teams are busy and have scheduled games. That means non of Africa's top teams would be available. Although when it comes to Africa, teams with low FIFA ranking or even teams that are not member of FIFA play decent football, for example likes of Kenya, Chad, Liberia, Burundi, Madagascar, Mauritania, Namibia, Uganda, Rwanda, Malawi, Libya, Sudan, South Sudan, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Reunion. Exception would be teams like Somalia, Eritrea, and Djibouti whose football level is worse than teams from AFC.

[Rooyintan]

Watching Team Melli play on my birthday is always nice 😎🇮🇷 lets hope for an decent african team and I‘m also looking forward to the squad selection

Available African teams are:

FIFA members: Kenya, Chad, Mauritius, Seychelles, Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea

non-FIFA members: Zanzibar, Reunion, Mayotte

To get familiarize with how strong these teams are, you can view their results.

https://www.international-football.n...hes?team=Kenya

https://www.international-football.n...ches?team=Chad

https://www.international-football.n...?team=Djibouti

https://www.international-football.n...s?team=Eritrea

https://www.international-football.n...team=Mauritius

https://www.international-football.n...eam=Seychelles

https://www.international-football.n...s?team=Somalia

https://www.international-football.n...?team=Zanzibar

https://www.international-football.n...s?team=Mayotte

https://www.international-football.n...s?team=Reunion

[Abtin]

Will EU based players be brought in? 🇪🇺

[Rooyintan]

Watching Team Melli play on my birthday is always nice 😎🇮🇷 lets hope for an decent african team and I‘m also looking forward to the squad selection

African team is not Kenya, Djibouti, Mauritius. All three will be playing alongside Pakistan in a 4-nation tournament in Mauritius.

https://www.mozzartsport.co.ke/footb...-in-june/30347

Previously, Kenya or Pakistan were supposed to replace Russia who refused to participate at 2023 CAFA Nations Cup, but I did not see anything in the news whether they'll be participating or not until I saw this article
https://www.mozzartsport.co.ke/footb...-in-june/30347

So many teams refused to take part at 2023 CAFA Nations Cup! Some of them don't want to be embarrased by tieing likes of Afghanistan or Turkmenistan (example Russia) or be demolished by Iran (example Kuwait)

Thailand, Russia, China, Kuwait, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kenya were all invited. All declined and made other arrangements. Only Oman accepted invitation and was placed in Group A.

[Rooyintan]

Will EU based players be brought in? 🇪🇺

Team Melli squad has not been announced. I would say that most likely majority of EU based players probably would not be called up for this tournament.

[Iran_19]

Team Melli squad has not been announced. I would say that most likely majority of EU based players probably would not be called up for this tournament.

Season in Europe is almost done so why not?


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[milad_b]

Season in Europe is almost done so why not?

To play against Kyrgyzstan and afghanistan ????

I rather see team melli play friendly game against better asian teams like Qatar, Australia , China , SK/Japan, and saudi. Taj is claiming that we will play a friendly game against Saudi arabia. I wonder when.

[perspolis#1]

For the love of Enayati's jenazeh vs Mexico please let some young kids get experience. After Azmoun, Taremi etc leave we have a black hole of a generation in our team. Only Sayyadmanesh and Hazbavi look good

[Rooyintan]

Season in Europe is almost done so why not?


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Perhaps Zahedi and Sayyadmanesh would be suitable for CAFA Nations Cup but other Euro based players have many caps and experience. Just like how Saudi Arabia uses WAFF Championship, Gulf Cup and Arab Cup, Japan and South Korea use EAFF Cup to give game time and experience to their uncapped, low caps and bench players, then Iran needs to do the same by using CAFA Nations Cup and the occassional Navruz Cup to provide uncapped, low caps and bench players to gain game time and experience.

Afghanistan would be a good first test, while Kyrgyzstan is just the right team to put enormous pressure on Team Melli's uncapped, low caps and bench players.

Taremi, Azmoun, Jahanbakhsh, Hajisafi, Mohammadi, Gholizadeh, Abedzadeh, Ghoddos should have rest with their family, ideal time for "Summer Vacation"