Palestine wins AFC Challenge Cup

Palestine national football team raised the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup trophy for the first time in the country’s history, after winning the tournament's final match against Philippines, played at the National Football Stadium in Male’ on Friday night.

Friday’s win has secured a spot for Palestine in the AFC Asian Cup, the region’s biggest football event and the second oldest continental football championship in the world, to be held in Australia in 2015.

Palestine won against Philippines 1 nil in Friday’s match. The single goal, seen in the 58th minute, was scored by Palestinian striker Ashraf Al-Fawaghr. Philippines team pressed hard after Palestine’s goal, but Palestine held better ball possession and an overall control of the game for the better half of the match.

A large number of Maldivian were cheering for their muslim Palestinian brothers on Friday. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas telephoned President Yameen during the match and thanked him for Maldives’ support for his team, President’s Office Spokesperson Muaz Ali revealed on Friday.

Palestine passed through the tournament by winning all 5 matches without allowing a single goal against them. Having moved to the AFC Asian Cup, Palestine will first face the tournament’s four-time champion Japan, and later Iraq and Jordan.