Afghan victory over Pakistan sparks wild celebrations

Published August 21, 2013
An Afghan football fan walks with his national flag draped over his shoulders as others (R) wait in line to watch their team play against Pakistan at the Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF) stadium in Kabul. -Photo by AFP
An Afghan football fan walks with his national flag draped over his shoulders as others (R) wait in line to watch their team play against Pakistan at the Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF) stadium in Kabul. -Photo by AFP
Afghan (red) and Pakistani players seen in action. -Photo by AFP
Afghan (red) and Pakistani players seen in action. -Photo by AFP
An Afghan fan cheers for his team. -Photo by AFP
An Afghan fan cheers for his team. -Photo by AFP
Afghan fans, who came out to support their team from all over the country, cheer for their team. -Photo by AFP
Afghan fans, who came out to support their team from all over the country, cheer for their team. -Photo by AFP
Afghan fans watch the football match between Afghanistan and Pakistan  on a TV screen in Herat. -Photo by AFP
Afghan fans watch the football match between Afghanistan and Pakistan on a TV screen in Herat. -Photo by AFP
Afghan (in red) and Pakistani football players tussle for the ball. -Photo by AFP
Afghan (in red) and Pakistani football players tussle for the ball. -Photo by AFP
An Afghan player shoots towards goal. -Photo by AP
An Afghan player shoots towards goal. -Photo by AP
Spectators react in the stands as Afghan footballers celebrate their 3-0 win against Pakistan. -Photo by AFP
Spectators react in the stands as Afghan footballers celebrate their 3-0 win against Pakistan. -Photo by AFP
Afghan fans celebrate their team's victory against Pakistan. -Photo by AFP
Afghan fans celebrate their team's victory against Pakistan. -Photo by AFP
Afghan footballers celebrate their 3-0 win. -Photo by AFP
Afghan footballers celebrate their 3-0 win. -Photo by AFP

KABUL: Afghanistan's football team sparked rowdy celebrations across the war-battered nation Tuesday after securing a convincing 3-0 win over Pakistan in the first international match in Kabul for ten years. A delirious 6,000 capacity crowd packed the Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF) stadium for a game that unleashed a wave of patriotic pride in a country beset for decades by war, poverty and extremism. The match was promoted as a symbol of football's ability to foster peace and unite countries in a shared love of sport, but the result was celebrated by many Afghans as a sweet victory over an old adversary.

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