Afghanistan Football Federation President Karim Keramuddin (C) holds the trophy after the Afghanistan Football Federation received the FIFA Fair Play award during the FIFA Ballon d'Or 2013 soccer awards ceremony in Zurich January 13, 2014. PHOTO: REUTERS

ZURICH: The Afghanistan Football Federation won the 2013 FIFA Fair Play award at the FIFA Ballon d'Or 2013 soccer awards ceremony in Zurich, after hosting their first international match at home, a friendly against Pakistan, for 10 years in August.



Afghanistan had defeated Pakistan 3-0 in the friendly match played on August 20, 2013.



Afghanistan, ranked at 139th in the world just above Pakistan, gave home fans little to worry about, dominating the game from the kick-off and going three goals ahead mid-way through the second half.



After scoring two goals in the first half, Afghan striker Mohammad Maroof sealed victory with the third goal in the second.



The match was promoted as a symbol of football’s ability to foster peace and unite countries in a shared love of sport, but the result was celebrated by many Afghans as a sweet victory over an old and bitter adversity.