In front of their home crowd at Jinnah Stadium, Pakistan demonstrated promise and tenacity despite missed opportunities. In their AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifier home leg against Afghanistan, Pakistan’s national football team fought to a tense 0-0 draw on Thursday at Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad. Even though the Green Shirts were unable to win, their performance was a major step up under new head coach Nolberto Solano, who took pride in the dedication and spirit of his team.
Solano Delighted with Team Attitude
Speaking alongside midfielder Etzaz Hussain following the game, Nolberto Solano commended his team for persevering in the face of numerous obstacles. “First of all, I’m really pleased with the team, with all the boys. With all the small issues we had, especially with some players arriving late, it’s not easy. But I was very pleased with their attitude today,” Solano said.
He emphasized how the team managed to dominate most of the game despite limited preparation time. “I believe we dominated the match for most parts and were an excellent team. Like the players, I’m disappointed that we couldn’t take all three points—not just because of the missed penalty, but also because we had other chances. Honestly, these guys are doing their best and I’m proud of them.”
Nolberto Solano highlighted the difficulty faced by overseas players who travelled long distances to represent Pakistan. “It’s not easy for these guys to travel 15, 19 or even 20 hours to arrive in Pakistan a day before the match. They didn’t have much time to train together but I had confidence in them.”
Building Towards the Away Leg
Responding to questions about the team’s next steps, Nolberto Solano stressed the importance of maintaining consistency. “We’ll prepare in the same way. We need to check how the boys are physically and mentally after travelling from different parts of the world. I was very impressed with most of them, especially as it was my first time seeing some of them play. We’ll build on this performance for the next match on Tuesday.”
He also reiterated his open selection policy. “I always say the national team is never closed to anyone. All good players are welcome. As you saw today, players who haven’t played much recently came in and made a real impact. That’s what we want—competition, commitment and pride in representing Pakistan.”
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Etzaz Hussain’s Emotional Debut
Midfielder Etzaz Hussain, who finally made his much-anticipated debut, described the experience as a dream come true. “I have waited a long time to represent Pakistan and finally that dream has come true. Everything felt perfect today. Yes, we couldn’t secure the win but the experience was perfect,” he said.
Reflecting on the game, Hussain added, “In the second half, we showed that we can compete with Afghanistan and we will aim to do the same in the away fixture as well.”
Missed Chances and Missed Penalty
Pakistan pressed high and created multiple chances early in the game, displaying aggression. Afghanistan, which is ranked 161 in the FIFA rankings compared to Pakistan’s 199, frustrated the hosts with a methodical defensive approach.
The crucial moment in the match occurred when Pakistan was given a penalty in the 67th minute. Otis Khan’s attempt went wide and the score remained unchanged as he was unable to convert. Pakistan’s forwards made more attempts, but Afghanistan’s defense held strong until the very end.
Looking Ahead to Kuwait
The return leg, which will be Afghanistan’s “home” match on neutral territory, will now take place in Kuwait on October 14. As the qualifying campaign draws to a close, both teams are attempting to win their first game in Group E.
After losing 2-0 to Syria in March and 1-0 to Myanmar in June, Pakistan’s journey has been difficult thus far. However, Thursday’s draw gave them new hope and indications that they are making progress under Nolberto Solano’s leadership.
Pakistan will try to convert their hard-earned momentum into victory when they play Afghanistan again next week, as confidence is growing and a distinct sense of unity is beginning to emerge.
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