Football in Afghanistan
| National teams | |
|---|---|
| League competitions |
|
| Cup competitions |
|
Top-level football leagues of Asia (AFC)
| Founded | 2021 |
|---|---|
| Country | Afghanistan |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Number of teams | 12 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| International cup(s) | AFC Challenge League |
| Current champions | Attack Energy SC (1) (2022) |
| Most championships | Attack Energy Sorkh Poshan (1 title) |
| Current: 2022 Afghanistan Champions League | |
The Afghanistan Champions League is a professional men's football league run by the Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF). It is the country's primary competition for the sport. The competition commenced in 2021.[1] The league is currently contested by twelve teams. National champion gains qualification into the continental competition, AFC Challenge League.
The Afghanistan Champions League was established in 2021 replacing the Afghan Premier League.[2][1] The league consisted of clubs that were runners up or winners of their provincial leagues. 12 teams from 6 zones contested the league, and the matches were held in Kabul, Herat and Balkh provinces.[3]
In the second 2022 season,[4] Abu Muslim club came second after Attack Energy by 4 points. The two of 12 clubs finished without any defeat.[5][6][7][8] During the Champions League games, the teams of Attack Energy and Abu Muslim played against each other, and this match ended with a result of 1–1.[9]
In 2023, the league was not held due to financial crisis as FIFA had not sent the budget to the Afghanistan Football Federation since early 2023 due to political changes and the Taliban's presence within Afghan football, violating FIFA regulations, and after the remaining funds in the account of the Afghanistan Football Federation ended in 2022.[10][11]
In January 2024, the Afghanistan Football Federation announced the return of the league after Ramadan on 20 April.[12]
| Year | Winner | Runners-up | Top Scorers (golden boot) | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Sorkh Poshan | N/A | N/A | |
| 2022 | Attack Energy | Abu Muslim | N/A | N/A |
| Club | Wins | Winning years |
|---|---|---|
| Attack Energy | 1 | 2022 |
| Sorkh Poshan | 1 | 2021 |
The following 12 clubs competed in the 2022 Afghanistan Champions League season.[13]
| Club | Position in 2022 |
First season in Afghanistan Champions League |
Seasons in Afghanistan Champions League |
Most recent top division title |
Location | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attack Energy SC | 1st | 2022 | 1 | 2022 | Herat | Herat Stadium | 15,000 |
| Abu Muslim FC | 2nd | 2021 | 2 | — | Farah | — | — |
| MGM Khadim | 3rd | 2021 | 2 | — | Sar-e Pol | — | — |
| Aino Mina FC | 4th | 2021 | 2 | — | Kandahar | — | — |
| Mawj Sahel FC | 5th | 2021 | 2 | — | Takhar | — | — |
| Maiwand FC | 6th | 2021 | 2 | — | Helmand | — | — |
| FC Sorkh Poshan | 7th | 2021 | 2 | 2021 | Herat | — | — |
| Istiqlal FC | 8th | 2021 | 2 | — | Kabul | AFF Stadium | 5,000 |
| Wahidy FC | 9th | 2021 | 2 | — | Kunduz | — | — |
| Khurasan FC | 10th | 2021 | 2 | — | Faryab | — | — |
| Azadi Club | 11th | 2022 | 1 | — | Ghazni | — | — |
| Atalan Club | 12th | 2021 | 2 | — | Khost | — | — |