Ten players have withdrawn from Afghanistan’s national football team ahead of two upcoming Asian Cup qualifying matches, the country’s football federation said.
In a statement, the Afghanistan Football Federation cited family issues, security concerns in the Middle East and club-related injuries as the main reasons for the withdrawals.
Afghanistan is scheduled to face Myanmar and Syria in its next qualifying fixtures.
The players who withdrew include Habibullah Askari, Owais Azizi, Abdanjam Haidari, Mohammad Naeem Rahimi, Jabar Sharza, Faisal Ahmad Hamidi, Jamshid Achakzai, Omid Arzoo, Tawfiq Sikandari and Ramin Safi.
The federation said most of the players had initially confirmed their availability but later reversed their decision shortly before the matches.
It added that players are expected to prioritize national team duties and uphold their responsibilities at the international level.
Head coach Jose Antonio Nogueira said the team may shift its focus toward domestic-based players after the upcoming matches.
“After these two games, we will focus more on players within Afghanistan,” he said. “Our plan is to build a squad largely from players inside the country to create a committed and accessible team.”
The federation said efforts to rebuild and strengthen the national team would continue, with future decisions aimed at the long-term development of football in Afghanistan.
