 | |
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Host country | India |
| Dates | 30 July – 13 August |
| Venue(s) | 3 (in 2 host cities) |
| Final positions | |
| Champions |  India (1st title) |
| Runners-up |  Tajikistan |
| Third place |  North Korea |
| Fourth place |  Myanmar |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 16 |
| Goals scored | 41 (2.56 per match) |
| Attendance | 15,900 (994 per match) |
| Top scorer(s) | Pak Song-chol (6 goals) |
| Best player(s) | Bhaichung Bhutia |
The 2008 AFC Challenge Cup football tournament was organised by AFC and was hosted by India.The tournament was played from 30 July – 13 August 2008. India won the final against Tajikistan.[1] India was also the winner of the fair play award and the India captain Bhaichung Bhutia won the most valuable player award.
Chinese Taipei was originally designated the host, but could not guarantee it would meet the AFC's standards for hosting the tournament.[2] Thailand was first chosen as host but withdrew due to lack of time to prepare.[3] The Philippines also was to take over as host with matches to be played in Bacolod in May 2008 but the plan failed to materialized.[4]
The winners of the 2008 and 2010 competitions will qualify directly for the 2011 Asian Cup. As a result, India qualified for the AFC Asian Cup, the first time since 1984.This competition is exclusive to members of the emerging nations class of the AFC. However, in the previous edition, Bangladesh and India were invited from the developing nations class – Bangladesh actually hosting the tournament, and India sending their under-20 team. India and Bangladesh have again been invited for the 2008 edition of the tournament, along with North Korea, Myanmar and Turkmenistan who are also a part of the developing nations class.
Laos withdrew from the competition on 2 May 2008.[5] Palestine withdrew from the competition on 14 May 2008.[6]
Due to the poor conditions of the pitch at Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium, the AFC moved the majority of the matches to another venue. It was decided that ten matches would be played at the Gachibowli Athletic Stadium, and two at the LBS Stadium.[7] Due to incessant rains in Hyderabad in the days leading up to the final, the AFC changed the venue of the final and the third place play-off to the Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi.[8]
- ^ The Roon Ba News, 17 December 2007 Archived 28 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Thailand replaces Taiwan as 2008 Challenge Cup host". Archived from the original on 22 December 2007. Retrieved 29 November 2007.
- ^ "India almost set to host Asian Challenge Cup". Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 23 July 2010.
- ^ Tupas, Cedelf (18 February 2008). "Asian Challenge Cup in Bacolod uncertain". The Visayan Daily Star. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
- ^ "Laos withdraws from Challenge Cup". Archived from the original on 5 May 2008. Retrieved 2 May 2008.
- ^ "Palestine withdraws from Challenge Cup". Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 14 May 2008.
- ^ "AFC Challenge Cup Venues Changed". Archived from the original on 28 July 2008. Retrieved 27 July 2008.
- ^ AFC Challenge Cup final shifted Archived 20 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine