Tajikistan national football team

Tajikistan

Nickname(s)	The Crowns (Tajik: Тоҷҳо / Tâjhâ) The Persian Lions(Tajik: Шерҳои форсй / Ŝerhâi fârsi) Sons of the Highlands(Tajik: Бачаҳои Кӯҳистон / Baĉahâi Kuhistân) Pamirians(Tajik: Помириҳо / Pâmirihâ)
Association	Tajikistan Football Federation
Confederation	AFC (Asia)
Sub-confederation	CAFA (Central Asia)
Head coach	Usmon Toshev
Most caps	Fatkhullo Fatkhuloev (68)
Top scorer	Manuchekhr Dzhalilov (17)
Home stadium	Pamir Stadium (24,000)
FIFA code	TJK
First colours Second colours Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current	121 (10 December 2020)[1]
Highest	106 (July 2013)
Lowest	180 (July 2003, October 2003)
First international
Tajikistan 2–2 Uzbekistan (Dushanbe, Tajikistan; 17 June 1992)
Biggest win
Tajikistan 16–0 Guam (Tabriz, Iran; 26 November 2000)
Biggest defeat
Japan 8–0 Tajikistan (Osaka, Japan; 11 October 2011)
AFC Challenge Cup
Appearances	4 (first in 2006)
Best result	Champions (2006)
Bangabandhu Cup
Appearances	1 (first in 2018)
Best result	Runners-up (2018)

The Tajikistan national football team (Tajik: Тими миллии футболи Тоҷикистон, Timi milliji futʙoli Toçikiston) represents Tajikistan in international football and is controlled by the Tajikistan Football Federation, the governing body for football in Tajikistan. Tajikistan's home ground is the Pamir Stadium in Dushanbe.

History

After the breakup of the Soviet Union, Tajikistan played its first match against Uzbekistan on 17 June 1992. It was not until 1994 that the Tajikistan National Football Federation was admitted to FIFA.

Tajikistan played its first official game on 11 April 1994 in Tashkent as part of a regional tournament. They lost that game against Kazakhstan 0–1.^[3] The first official competition the team entered was the qualifiers for the 1996 Asian Cup, when it was seeded in the three-team Group 8 with Uzbekistan and Bahrain. Bahrain later withdrew, leaving Tajikistan to a play-off against their Middle Asian neighbors. Tajikistan won the first game 4–0, but were beaten in the away game 0–5 after extra time. They did not enter a World Cup qualifying competition until the France 1998 edition, recording four victories in their preliminary group stage including a 5–0 triumph over Turkmenistan, and losing only to China, which placed them second behind their eastern neighbors, but out of the competition.^[3]

In a three-team qualifying section for Korea/Japan 2002, they had a record 16–0 win over Guam before losing 2–0 to Iran. After beating Bangladesh 4–0 on aggregate in the preliminary round of the qualifiers for Germany 2006, they held AFC Asian Cup semi-finalists and eventual group winners Bahrain to a goalless draw on 31 March 2004.

The team won its first international tournament, the inaugural AFC Challenge Cup, in 2006, beating Sri Lanka 4–0 in Dhaka.

Following Tajikistan's disappointing 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign, Mubin Ergashev and his staff were relieved of their duties.^[4]

Tajikistan were drawn into a 2019 Asian Cup qualification group with the Philippines, Yemen and Nepal. Following their defeat to Philippines on 27 March 2018, confirming Tajikistan's failure to qualify for the Asian Cup, manager Khakim Fuzailov resigned.^[5]

Due to the unsuccessful performance of Tajikistan in recent years, Usmon Toshev, the Uzbek coach, was appointed in order to reinvigorate the Tajik side. Under Usmon, Tajikistan performed well in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying, managed to beat neighbor Kyrgyzstan 1–0 and holding the same opponent 1–1 away. However, Tajikistan suffered a heartbreaking shock 3–4 loss to minnows Myanmar away, in what was considered to be a shock given Myanmar's poor form in early games, thus putting Tajikistan into trouble.

Team image

Kit

The team strip is currently sponsored by Chinese sporting apparel company Li-Ning.^[6]

Players

Current squad

Match date: 1 & 5 February 2021^[7]
Opposition: Jordan
Competition: Friendly
Caps and goals updated as of 5 February 2021.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
	GK	Rustam Yatimov	13 July 1998	15	0	Istiklol
	GK	Shokhrukh Kirgizboev	1 May 2002	5	0	Lokomotiv-Pamir
	GK	Mukhriddin Khasanov	23 September 2002	0	0	Khujand
	DF	Davron Ergashev	19 March 1988	63	8	Bunyodkor
	DF	Akhtam Nazarov	29 September 1992	55	5	Istiklol
	DF	Iskandar Dzhalilov	1 June 1992	23	0	Istiklol
	DF	Tabrezi Davlatmir	6 June 1998	16	0	Narva Trans
	DF	Zoir Juraboev	16 September 1998	11	1	Istiklol
	DF	Manuchehr Safarov	31 May 2001	9	0	Lokomotiv-Pamir
	DF	Vahdat Hanonov	25 July 2000	5	0	Istiklol
	DF	Karomatullozoda Alidzhoni	5 May 1999	0	0	CSKA Pamir Dushanbe
	DF	Naimdzhon Ibragimzoda	11 July 1999	0	0	Khujand
	MF	Amirbek Juraboev	13 April 1996	37	0	Istiklol
	MF	Ehson Panjshanbe	12 May 1998	24	0	Navbahor Namangan
	MF	Muhammadjon Rakhimov	15 October 1998	20	1	Istiklol
	MF	Alisher Dzhalilov	29 August 1993	9	2	Istiklol
	MF	Ilhomjon Barotov	21 July 1990	7	1	Istaravshan
	MF	Islom Zoirov	12 January 2002	4	0	Lokomotiv-Pamir
	MF	Abdulmumin Zabirov	4 August 2001	3	0	Khujand
	FW	Manuchekhr Dzhalilov	27 September 1990	35	17	Istiklol
	FW	Jahongir Ergashev	6 March 1994	34	4	Khujand
	FW	Tohir Malodustov	12 September 2000	2	0	Khujand
	FW	Rustam Soirov	12 September 2002	2	0	Istiklol

Recent call ups

The following players have been called up during the past 12 months.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Kurbonali Boboev	3 August 1987	0	0	Kuktosh Rudaki	v. Uzbekistan, 3 September 2020
DF	Khurshed Beknazarov	26 June 1994	13	0	Khujand	v. Uzbekistan, 3 September 2020
DF	Alisher Barotov	10 September 1999	2	0	Lokomotiv-Pamir	v. United Arab Emirates, 12 November 2020
MF	Umarjon Sharipov	5 June 2000	1	0	Khatlon	v. Uzbekistan, 3 September 2020
MF	Parvizdzhon Umarbayev	1 November 1994	25	6	Lokomotiv Plovdiv	v. United Arab Emirates, 12 November 2020
MF	Sharafdzhon Solehov	14 December 1999	9	1	Fayzkand	v. United Arab Emirates, 12 November 2020
MF	Shervoni Mabatshoev	10 December 2000	0	0	CSKA Pamir Dushanbe	v. United Arab Emirates, 12 November 2020
MF	Khurshed Abdulloev	15 May 2000	0	0	Dushanbe-83	v. United Arab Emirates, 12 November 2020
FW	Komron Tursunov	24 April 1996	17	5	TRAU	v. United Arab Emirates, 12 November 2020
FW	Sheriddin Boboev	21 April 1999	17	1	Penang FC	v. United Arab Emirates, 12 November 2020

Managers

As of 5 December 2018

Period	Head coach
1992–1994	Sharif Nazarov
1994–1995	Vladimir Ghulamhaydarov
1996	Abdulla Muradov
1997–1998	Zair Babayev
1999	Sharif Nazarov
2000–2002	Salahiddin Ghafurov
2003	Sharif Nazarov
2004	Zair Babayev
2004–2006	Sharif Nazarov
2007	Mahmadjan Habibullayev
2008–2011	Pulad Qadirov
2011–2012	Alimjan Rafiqov
2012	Kemal Alispahić
2012–2013	Nikola Kavazović
2013	Mubin Ergashev
2013–2015	Muhsin Muhammadiyev
2015–2016	Mubin Ergashev
2016–2018	Hakim Fuzaylov
2018	Alisher Tuhtayev
2018–	Usmon Toshev

Results and fixtures

Previous matches

Win Draw Loss

Date	Venue	Opponent	Competition	Result	Tajikistan scorers
2020
3 September 2020	Lokomotiv Stadium, Tashkent	Uzbekistan	Friendly	2–1 L	Z.Juraboev 48'
7 November 2020	Police Officers' Club Stadium, Dubai	Bahrain	Friendly	0–1 L
12 November 2020	Zabeel Stadium, Dubai	United Arab Emirates	Friendly	2–3 L	D.Ergashev 10' Tursunov 20'
2021
1 February 2021	UAE Football Association stadium, Dubai	Jordan	Friendly	0–2 L
5 February 2021	UAE Football Association stadium, Dubai	Jordan	Friendly	1–0 W	A. Dzhalilov 79'

Upcoming matches

Win Draw Loss

Date	Venue	Opponent	Competition	Result	Tajikistan scorers
2021
25 March 2021	Pamir Stadium, Dushanbe	Mongolia	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification (2nd Round)
7 June 2021	Noevir Stadium, Kobe	Japan	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification (2nd Round)
15 June 2021	Pamir Stadium, Dushanbe	Myanmar	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification (2nd Round)

Records

Most capped players

As of match played 5 February 2021^[8]

Top goalscorers

As of match played 5 February 2021, the players with the most goals for Tajikistan are:

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup										FIFA World Cup qualification
Year	Result	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1930 to 1990	Was part of Soviet Union									Was part of Soviet Union
1994	Did not enter									Did not enter
1998	Did not qualify									6	4	1	1	15	2
2002										2	1	0	1	16	2
2006										8	4	1	3	9	9
2010										4	1	2	1	7	4
2014										6	2	0	4	6	14
2018										6	0	1	5	2	20
2022	To be determined									To be determined
2026	To be determined									To be determined
Total	–	0/21	–	–	–	–	–	–		32	12	5	15	55	51

AFC Asian Cup

AFC Asian Cup										AFC Asian Cup qualification
Year	Result	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1992	Did not enter									Did not enter
1996	Did not qualify									2	1	0	1	4	5
2000										3	2	0	1	6	5
2004										6	2	2	2	3	5
2007	Did not enter									Did not enter
2011	Did not qualify
2015
2019										16	5	3	8	25	29
2023	To be determined									0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	Best:	0/8	–	–	–	–	–	–		27	10	5	12	38	44

• 2010 AFC Challenge Cup was used to determine qualification for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification

AFC Challenge Cup

RCD Cup/ECO Cup record

• 1965 to 1974: No international team
• 1993: Third Place

Other tournaments

• 1997 West Asian Games: Fourth Place
• 2005 Islamic Solidarity Games: Group Stage

ELF Cup

In 2006, Tajikistan took part in the inaugural ELF Cup in Northern Cyprus. This competition was originally intended to be for teams that were not members of FIFA; however, the organisers extended invitations to both Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, who were both represented by their national futsal teams. Tajikistan failed to get past the group stage.

References

External links

• Tajikistan profile at FIFA.com
• Tajikistan profile at Ukrainian Football News (in Ukrainian)
• Official Website of Tajikistan Football (in Ukrainian)

Preceded by Newly Created

AFC Challenge Cup Champions 2006 (First title)

Succeeded by 2008 India