This Thursday, the Pakistan national team will face Afghanistan at the Jinnah Sports Arena in Islamabad as part of the third round of qualifiers for the 2027 Asian Cup. I am making a prediction on the outcome of this match, which appears promising.
Match Preview
Pakistan is still looking for its first point in the Asian qualifiers after two matches. They currently hold the last position in Group E with a goal difference of -3 and have lost eight games in a row since November 2023.
Recent defeats to Syria (0-2) and Myanmar (0-1) have exposed their struggles in both attack and defense. The team lacks depth and confidence, particularly in high-pressure situations. Without a solid result in this upcoming game, their chances of reaching the finals will significantly decline.
Afghanistan has also yet to win but has shown a bit more promise. They lost to Myanmar (1-2) and Syria (0-1), yet they managed to score, keeping them ahead of Pakistan in the standings. Under coach Vincenzo Annese, the team displays a more dynamic attacking approach but still faces challenges in converting chances and controlling the game.
Despite these struggles, certain players have individual talent, suggesting potential for improvement. This could be a good opportunity for Afghanistan to earn points, especially against a team that is struggling.
Probable Lineups
- Pakistan: Butt Y., Hayat M. U., Ikhtisham V., Iqbal A., Khan H., Fazal M., Uzair A., Nabi R., Ghazi A. A. K., Abdulla M., Arshad A
- Afghanistan: Hamidi, Mansor, Arezou, Hamayouni, Ahadi, Nazari, Akbari, Rahimi, Kuhiar, Skandari, Mousavi
Statistics and Head-to-Head
- In two friendly matches between these teams, each has one win
- The last matchup was in February 2015, where Pakistan won 2-1.
- Pakistan has not scored in its last six matches
Prediction
Both teams are facing difficulties and have yet to score, but Afghanistan appears to have more structure in their gameplay. Pakistan has defensive issues and lacks creative attacking options. In this scenario, betting on a victory for Afghanistan seems like a wise choice.