KABUL, Aug 19: Afghanistan’s action-starved football fans are predicting a morale-boosting victory for the national side in their first home game for 10 years when they take on Pakistan on Tuesday.

The match at the Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF) stadium in Kabul has sparked major interest in the war-torn country, with a sell-out crowd expected at the afternoon game.

Afghanistan, ranked 139th in the world, last played at home in 2003 in a clash against Turkmenistan and have not played Pakistan, their eastern neighbours and rivals, in Kabul since 1977.

“I’m very glad Afghanistan play Pakistan here,” Ghulam Abbas Kohi, a 16-year-old student, said as he picked up tickets from a sales booth in the city.

“I don’t remember any other match like this in my whole life. I’m sure Afghanistan are going to score a dozen goals and win. We have a strong team. I have bought 10 tickets and I also have Afghanistan flags to wave. I’m very excited.”

Tickets cost between 100 and 300 Afghanis ($2 and $5) for the game, which will be played on an artificial pitch at the 6,000-seater ground.

The FIFA-sanctioned match is being promoted as an international friendly, but cross-border tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan are likely to boost patriotic fervour on both sides.

Afghans and Pakistanis blame each other for violence plaguing both countries, with many in Afghanistan convinced that Pakistan is still pulling the strings behind a 12-year Taliban insurgency.

Pakistan was one of only three countries that recognised the 1996-2001 Taliban regime in Kabul until they were defeated by a US-led invasion for sheltering Al-Qaeda after the 9/11 attacks.

“I am sure Afghanistan will win, and hope this victory will be a response to Pakistan’s interference in Afghanistan,” said Mohammad Ali, 20, as he picked up two $5 tickets.“I’m going with all my friends to this match to support our team. We need to win.”

But retired Afghan football hero Mohammad Saber Rohparwar said that the game should be a demonstration of unity between the two troubled nations.

“I hope it brings joy and hope to the people of both countries,” said the former national captain, who has returned to Kabul from his home in Germany for the match.

“I don’t want to talk politics, but it appears politicians have failed in attempts to bring the two nations closer and help solve the problems shadowing our ties. I hope the game helps rebuild trust and strengthen good relations.”

He said he had returned to his homeland to give moral support and to help motivate the Afghan team.

“I have already seen them in action and am happy to see they are strong, motivated and professional.”—AFP