体坛英语新闻：Afghan president congratulates national football team over big win

KABUL, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Wednesday congratulated the country's national football team over winning its first international trophy in a match held in Kathmandu, Nepal earlier in the day.

Afghanistan won its first international trophy in football Wednesday, beating India 2-0 in the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) championship.

"Afghan President Hamid Karzai congratulated the people of Afghanistan and the members of the national football team over its victory in South Asian Football Federation Championship on Wednesday," said a statement issued by Arg, the Afghan Presidential Palace.

"Immediately upon the triumph, President Karzai in a telephone call to Afghan National Football Team coach Yousuf Kargar congratulated him an the members of the team over the big wine," it said.

The championship carries a cash prize of 50,000 U.S. dollars for the winner and 25,000 dollars for the runner-up.

The eight participating teams were India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Bhutan.

Despite a raging insurgency, lack of funds and having no proper sport facilities, the war-torn Afghanistan embarked on an extraordinary rise in football and cricket in recent years.