Stephen Constantine set to return as Pakistan football coach for AFC Asian Cup qualifier

KARACHI: The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has opted to bring back Stephen Constantine as the head coach of the national team, Geo News reported. 

Although an official announcement is still pending, the decision comes as Pakistan prepares for the third round of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers, a significant milestone in the nation's football journey.

However, sources indicate that Constantine has been appointed solely for the AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Syria, with a decision on a long-term role to be made later.

“He is coming only for this qualifier (vs Syria). We don’t have enough time for any change so we asked Stephen to come back for this match,” said a source in PFF.

Constantine previously managed the Pakistan team from 2023 to 2024. During his first stint with Pakistan team, the Shaheens managed to win the FIFA World Cup qualifier match against Cambodia and for the first time ever in history, qualified for the second round of qualifiers – though couldn’t’ proceed beyond that, but team showed remarkable improvement during his tenure.

Stephen Constantine is a familiar name in Asian football, having managed several national teams across the continent, including India and Nepal. He is best known for his two successful tenures with the Indian national team, where he significantly improved India’s FIFA ranking and developed young talent.

The PFF, according to the sources, has also confirmed Pakistan’s participation in the third round of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers, a major step forward following the lifting of FIFA’s suspension,

Pakistan’s first match in the qualifiers is scheduled for March 25, 2024, against Syria. The match, Syria’s home game, will be held in Saudi Arabia. According to sources, Constantine is set to take charge of the team for this crucial fixture.