Afghanistan’s national futsal team delivered a dominant, highly disciplined performance in the semifinals of the Intercontinental Futsal Tournament in Brazil, defeating a strong Cape Verde side 4–2 to secure a historic spot in the final. Head coach Dejan Dedović’s squad put on a masterclass to set up a blockbuster final against host country and world champion Brazil.
Kabul 24: Afghanistan took command early in the match, imposing a convincing 3–0 lead in the first half. Hamid Reza Hosseini opened the scoring, followed by Seyed Hossein Mousavi, who doubled the lead with a precise strike. Before the halftime whistle, Hamid Reza Hosseini netted his second goal of the match to send Afghanistan into the break with a comfortable three-goal advantage.
In the second half, Cape Verde capitalized on a defensive lapse to pull one goal back. However, Omid Qanbari responded promptly with Afghanistan’s fourth goal, restoring a safe distance between the two teams. Although Cape Verde scored a late second goal, Afghanistan’s effective game management prevented any further comeback, sealing a 4–2 victory. In the other semifinal match, Brazil swept past Japan 3–0 to book their place in the final. Afghanistan will face Brazil tomorrow night in a landmark fixture.
Afghanistan’s qualification for the final of a prestigious intercontinental tournament and their upcoming clash against Brazil mark a historic turning point for Afghan futsal. Through modern tactics, a compact defensive shape, and sharp finishing, Dedović’s team has outperformed formidable opponents including Japan, Peru, and Cape Verde. Facing the most decorated team in world futsal provides an unprecedented opportunity to test their international standing, gain elite-level experience, and showcase the remarkable potential of Afghanistan’s new futsal generation on the global stage.
