Pakistan-Afghanistan play out a draw in ACQs [Nukta]

by Alam Zeb Safi

Pakistan held Afghanistan to a 1-1 draw in their 2027 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers Group E fixture at the Ali Al-Salem Al-Sabah Stadium in Ardiyah, Kuwait, on Tuesday night.

The result, coming hardly a week after their goalless draw in the reverse fixture, leaves both South and Central Asian neighbors winless after four matches, each having secured just two points.

With Syria having already secured top position in the group and qualified for the 2027 finals after beating Myanmar 3-0 on Tuesday, the match carried little weight in terms of qualification but remained significant for both teams in terms of pride, rankings and building momentum for future competitions. Both sides were desperate to claim their first win of the campaign yet once again they were forced to share the spoils.

Afghanistan started the game with high intensity and pressed Pakistan in the early minutes immediately putting their opponents under pressure. Their efforts bore fruit in just the fifth minute when central defender Mahboob Hanifi made an unexpected forward run and latched onto a loose ball inside the box. Showing composure and clinical precision Hanifi calmly slotted past Pakistani goalkeeper Saqib Hanif putting Afghanistan 1-0 ahead.

The early goal was a wake-up call for Pakistan who gradually settled into the game. Despite the setback they began to retain possession more effectively and looked to exploit the flanks with Otis Khan playing a key role in orchestrating attacks.

Pakistan found their rhythm midway through the first half and their persistence was rewarded in the 29th minute. Otis Khan picked up the ball on the right wing and delivered a well-weighted pass to Etzaz Hussain who showed great movement and technique to finish past Afghanistan’s goalkeeper. The equalizer lifted Pakistan’s morale and injected energy into the squad who ended the half on the front foot.

Both coaches made strategic substitutions in the second half in hopes of turning the draw into a much-needed victory. Pakistan’s head coach Nolberto Solano, a former Peruvian international and ex-Newcastle United midfielder, introduced three substitutes to add pace and creativity in the final third. Afghanistan’s Italian tactician Vincenzo Annese responded with two changes of his own, focusing on tightening midfield control and defensive resilience.

Despite increased urgency from both sides the game became more fragmented in the final 30 minutes. While Afghanistan had a few half-chances from set-pieces Pakistan came closest to scoring when its striker saw his shot parried away in the 81st minute.

Ultimately both teams lacked the cutting edge in the final third and the match ended 1-1, a result that reflects the current rebuilding phases both nations are undergoing in their footballing journeys.

Following the result, Syria remain firmly in control of Group E and have already booked their place in the next round. Pakistan and Afghanistan, on the other hand, find themselves tied at the bottom of the table with two points each with Myanmar sitting just above them on three points.

Pakistan have already lost to both Syria and Myanmar in the earlier legs of the campaign. The Green-shirts will next face Syria on November 18, 2025 while Afghanistan will take on Myanmar on the same day. Pakistan will then wrap up their qualifying campaign with a match against Myanmar on March 31, 2026.

For Pakistan the qualifiers have underscored the long road ahead in terms of development, tactical maturity and squad cohesion. While there are individual talents emerging Pakistan faces challenges related to infrastructure, international experience and strategic planning.

Pakistan’s inclusion of foreign-based players such as Etzaz Hussain and Otis Khan has added some quality and exposure but the team continues to struggle with consistency and squad chemistry. Solano, who took over the national team with high expectations, has yet to register a win in the campaign and will need more time and perhaps more support from the federation to build a competitive unit.

As there is no hope of progression in the event any more Pakistan will be hoping to use the remaining fixtures to experiment, gain experience and lay the groundwork for more competitive campaigns in the future.

Published in Nukta, 15 October 2025