2023 CAFA Nations Cup explained

Tourney Name:CAFA Nations Cup
Year:2023
Country:Kyrgyzstan
Country2:Uzbekistan
Dates:10 – 20 June
Num Teams:7
Sub-Confederations:2
Venues:3
Cities:2
Count:1
Matches:11
Goals:33
Top Scorer: Mehdi Taremi
(6 goals)
Player: Mehdi Taremi
Goalkeeper: Ibrahim Al-Mukhaini
Nextseason:TBD

The 2023 CAFA Nations Cup was the first edition of the CAFA Nations Cup, the biennial international men's football championship of Central Asia organized by the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA). The event was held in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan from June 10 to 20.[1]

Background

The inaugural edition of the senior men's tournament was initially planned to be hosted by Tashkent in October 2018.[2] [3] [4] [5] It was not played out though.

In March 2023, it was announced the inaugural edition of the senior men's tournament would commence in June 2023 in Tashkent and Bishkek for the six member associations, along with the addition of two invited guest teams: Russia and an unconfirmed Asian team.[6] [7] [8] However, the start of the inaugural edition of the tournament was put in doubt again after it was reported in early April 2023 that Iran, Uzbekistan, Russia, and Iraq would instead take part in a four-nation tournament in June 2023.[9]

On 15 April, it was reported that Russia was set to shun the inaugural CAFA Championship, while organizers insisted they were still in talks with them over their participation.[10] On 18 April, it was reported that Iran would take part in the inaugural CAFA Championship along with the member associations of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan, as well as invited guests Russia and one other Asian country, with the tournament being hosted in Tashkent and Bishkek in June.[11] On 19 April, it was reported that Russia had withdrawn from the tournament.[12] [13] On 24 April, Oman was reported to be an invited guest team after Thailand reportedly turned down an invitation.[14] [15] [16]

Participating nations

CountryAppearanceFIFA ranking
6 April 2023
1st155
1st20
(co-hosts)1st96
(invitee)1st73
1st109
1st137
(co-hosts)1st74

Seeding

The following 7 teams were divided based on their FIFA Ranking of April 2023.[14]

Draw results

The draw was held in Dushanbe on 26 April 2023 at 14:00 Tajikistan Time (UTC+5). The draw resulted in the following groups:

+ Group A
width=120Team
A1
A2
A3
A4
+ Group B
width=120Team
B1
B2
B3

Venues

Kyrgyzstan
Bishkek
Dolen Omurzakov Stadium
Capacity: 23,000
Uzbekistan
Tashkent
Pakhtakor Central StadiumMilliy Stadium
Capacity: 35,000Capacity: 34,000

Squads

See main article: 2023 CAFA Championship squads.

Officials

Referees

Assistant Referees

Sponsors

1xBet[17]

Broadcasting rights

The following channels have been given broadcasting rights to broadcast the tournament.

TerritoryRights holder(s)
UzbekistanUzNTRC Sport
KyrgyzstanKyrgyz Sport TV
TajikistanTV Futbol
IranIRIB TV3

Group stage

All times are local, Uzbekistan Time (UTC+5) & Kyrgyzstan Time (UTC+6).

TiebreakersTeams were ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss), and if tied on points, the following tie-breaking criteria were applied, in the order given, to determine the rankings.[18]
  1. Points in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  2. Goal difference in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  3. Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  4. If more than two teams are tied, and after applying all head-to-head criteria above, a subset of teams are still tied, all head-to-head criteria above are reapplied exclusively to this subset of teams;
  5. Goal difference in all group matches;
  6. Goals scored in all group matches;
  7. Penalty shoot-out if only two teams were tied and they met in the last round of the group;
  8. Disciplinary points (yellow card = 1 point, red card as a result of two yellow cards = 3 points, direct red card = 3 points, yellow card followed by direct red card = 4 points);
  9. Drawing of lots.

Group A

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Group B

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1 The match was abandoned in the 97th minute with Kyrgyzstan leading 1–0 after Afghanistan walked off and refused to continue. The match was awarded 3–0 to Kyrgyzstan.[19]

Knockout round

Final

Awards

The following awards were presented at the end of the tournament:[20]

Best Player
Top Goalscorer
Best Goalkeeper
Fair Play Award

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Iran Likely to Meet Russia in 2023 CAFA Championship . 2023-03-19 . 2023-03-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230319163504/https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2023/03/14/2867675/iran-likely-to-meet-russia-in-2023-cafa-championship . live .
  2. Web site: اتحادیه فوتبال آسیای مرکزی ایجاد شد. BBC. 22 February 2015. 22 February 2015. fa. 23 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150223133832/http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/afghanistan/2015/02/150221_zs_central_asian_football_association. live.
  3. Web site: 'Central Zone' gets thumbs up from Tajikistan. The AFC. 10 June 2014. 10 June 2014. 13 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190413225430/http://www.the-afc.com/en/about-afc/afc-committees/1127-executive-committee/28784-central-zone-gets-thumbs-up-from-tajikistan.html. live.
  4. Web site: AFC adds a fifth zone as Extraordinary Congress approves amendments to AFC Statutes. The AFC. 9 January 2015. 12 January 2015. 30 August 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170830171125/http://www.the-afc.com/executive-committee/afc-adds-a-fifth-zone-as-extraordinary-congress-approves-amendments-to-afc. live.
  5. Web site: Central Asians meet Sheikh Salman to create CAFA. aff.org.af. 29 October 2014. 17 May 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20141029194753/http://aff.org.af/english/central-asians-meet-sheikh-salman-to-create-cafa/. 29 October 2014.
  6. News: Russia invited to play in Central Asian soccer tournament . Reuters . 14 March 2023 . 2023-04-04 . 2023-03-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230314194004/https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/russia-invited-play-central-asian-soccer-tournament-2023-03-14/ . live .
  7. Web site: Iran to participate in first senior men's CAFA tournament in June 2023 – PersianFootball.com. 6 April 2023. 14 March 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230314194213/https://www.persianfootball.com/news/2023/03/13/iran-to-participate-in-first-senior-mens-cafa-tournament-in-june-2023/. live.
  8. Lowe . Martin . Martin_Lowe_ . 1635344903369805826 . 13 March 2023 . Bishkek & Tashkent will host the group stage; 2 x four teams, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan + two guests. The two invited guests are Russia & Thailand, yet China is also interested. Tashkent will host the final & third place playoff. . en . 28 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230313191357/https://twitter.com/Martin_Lowe_/status/1635344903369805826 . 13 March 2023 . live.
  9. Web site: Iran to participate in four-nation football tournament [Report] – PersianFootball.com]. 6 April 2023. 4 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230404082112/https://www.persianfootball.com/news/2023/04/03/iran-to-participate-in-four-nation-football-tournament-report/. live.
  10. Web site: Doubts over Russia participation as CAFA Championship set to reveal line-up . 15 April 2023 . 19 April 2023 . 19 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230419182742/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1135964/doubts-over-russia-cafa-championship . live .
  11. Web site: Archived copy . 2023-04-19 . 2023-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230419182744/https://www.persianleague.com/17161-iran-natl-football-team-to-play-in-cafa-along-with-russia . live .
  12. Web site: Archived copy . 2023-04-21 . 2023-04-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230421015504/https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2023/04/19/2882735/russia-withdraws-from-2023-cafa/ . live .
  13. Lowe . Martin . Martin_Lowe_ . 1648705117590364161 . 19 April 2023 . Russia confirm they will not participate in this year's upcoming CAFA Championship. "The decision was due to the timing of the tournament, coinciding with domestic competitions, including the final of the Russian Football Cup." - RFU spokesman https://t.co/XN6GUR4TFS . en . 28 April 2023.
  14. Lowe . Martin . Martin_Lowe_ . 1650495190501564421 . 24 April 2023 . June's CAFA Nations Cup 2023, will be drawn on Wednesday. Pot 1 - Iran & Uzbekistan (Group A host) Pot 2 - Kyrgyzstan (Group B host) & Tajikistan Pot 3 - Turkmenistan & Afghanistan Pot 4 - Oman Hopes of an 8th team were dashed after Russia declined the invitation. . en . 28 April 2023.
  15. Lowe . Martin . Martin_Lowe_ . 1640606432314683394 . 28 March 2023 . Thailand have turned down their invitation to join June's CAFA Championship. Oman now look in pole position to complete the tournament's line-up. Participation deadline is 31 March. . en . 28 April 2023.
  16. Web site: Central Asian Football Association on Instagram: "It's our great pleasure to announce about upcoming first ever CAFA Senior Championship in history of Central Asian Football Association CAFA Nations Cup 2023⚽️ Participating teams: Afghanistan I.R. Iran Kyrgyz Republic Tajikistan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan Oman Draw Ceremony for the competition will be held as follows : Wednesday, 26 April 2023 ⏰14:00 (Dushanbe local time,GMT+5) CAFA YouTube Channel Teams drawn in group B will play their matches on 10,13 and 16 of June, while group a matches will be played on 11, 14, and 17 June accordingly. Final match and match for the third place will be played on 20th of June in capital city of Uzbekistan. We will keep update you with further information #CafaNationsCup" . 24 April 2023 . 24 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230424184352/https://www.instagram.com/p/CrbO471sdF2/ . live .
  17. Web site: 1XBET betting company is the general sponsor of the upcoming CAFA NATIONS CUP 2023 tournament. Central Asian Football Association. 8 June 2023. 9 June 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230609034008/https://the-cafa.com/1xbet-betting-company-is-the-general-sponsor-of-the-upcoming-cafa-nations-cup-2023-tournament/. live.
  18. Web site: Competition Regulations CAFA Nations Cup 2023. CAFA. 5 September 2023.
  19. Web site: Decisions of the CAFA Executive Committee. CAFA. 5 September 2023.
  20. Web site: Winner of the historic CAFA Nations Cup 2023 is I.R. Iran national team. CAFA. 5 September 2023.

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