Afghanistan Champions League

The Afghanistan Champions League is a professional men's football league run by the Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF). It is the country's primary competition for the sport. The competition commenced in 2021.^[1]

Afghanistan Champions League

Founded	2021; 4 years ago (2021)
Country	Afghanistan
Confederation	AFC
Number of clubs	12
Level on pyramid	1
Relegation to	Province League
International cup(s)	AFC Challenge League
Current champions	Abu Muslim (1) (2024–25)
Most championships	Attack Energy (2 titles)
Broadcaster(s)	Ariana Television Network
Current: 2024–25 Afghanistan Champions League

History

The Afghanistan Champions League was established in 2021, replacing the Afghan Premier League.^[2][1] The league consisted of 12 clubs from Kabul, Herat and Balkh.^[3][4]

In the second 2022 season,^[5] Abu Muslim club came second after Attack Energy by 4 points. The two of 12 clubs finished without any defeat.^[6][7][8][9] During the Champions League games, the teams of Attack Energy and Abu Muslim played against each other, and this match ended with a result of 1–1.^[10]

In 2023, the league was not held due to financial crisis as FIFA had not sent the budget to the Afghanistan Football Federation since early 2023 due to political changes and the Taliban's presence within Afghan football, violating FIFA regulations, and after the remaining funds in the account of the Afghanistan Football Federation ended in 2022.^[11][12]

In January 2024, the Afghanistan Football Federation announced the return of the league after Ramadan on 20 April.^[13][14][15] In the 2024 season, Attack Energy won their second consecutive title after finishing the season unbeaten by winning all of their 11 matches.^[16][17][18]

Abu Muslim won their first ever Afghan league title in the 2024–25 season doing so undefeated.^[19] However one of Abu Muslim last matches against Adalat Farah in a controversial 8–0 victory against Adalat Farah was marred by allegations of match-fixing.^[20][21]

Champions

List of champions by season

Year	Champion	Runners-up
2021	Sorkh Poshan	Istiqlal
2022	Attack Energy	Abu Muslim
2024	Attack Energy	Sorkh Poshan
2024–25	Abu Muslim	Attack Energy

League wins by club

Club	Wins	Winning year
Attack Energy	2	2022, 2024
Abu Muslim	1	2024–25
Sorkh Poshan	1	2021

Clubs

The following 12 clubs competed in the 2024–25 Afghanistan Champions League season.

Club	Location
Abu Muslim	Farah
Adalat Farah	Farah
Aino Mina	Kandahar
Attack Energy	Herat
Istiqlal	Kabul
Khadim	Sar-e Pol
Khurasan	Faryab
Mawj Sahel Sahet	Takhar
Perrozi Kabul	Kabul
Sarafan	Herat
Sarsabz Yashlar	Faryab
Sorkh Poshan	Herat

Media coverage and sponsorships

In April 2024, Ariana Television Network signed a deal with the Afghanistan Football Federation to broadcast the third season of the Afghanistan Champions League live, legally and exclusively.^[22] The league was sponsored by Victor Energy Drink.^[22]

Awards

Top scorer

Year	Player/s	Club	Goals	Ref.
2021	N/A	N/A	N/A
2022	N/A	N/A	N/A
2024	Ahmed Nabi Muqdas	Aino Mina	N/A	[23]
2024–25	Farhad Alizadeh	Sorkh Poshan	18	[24]

Most valuable player

Year	Player/s	Club	Ref.
2021	N/A	N/A
2022	N/A	N/A
2024	Hamid Amiri	Sorkh Poshan	[23]
2024–25	Zulfiqar Nazari	Abu Muslim	[24]

Goalkeeper of the year

Year	Player/s	Club	Ref.
2021	N/A	N/A
2022	N/A	N/A
2024	Faisal Hamidi	Attack Energy	[23]
2024–25	Faisal Hamidi	Attack Energy	[24]

See also

• Football in Afghanistan