Masih Saighani

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Masih Saighani

| image = Masih Saighani Aizawl F.C.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Masih with Aizawl in 2017

| fullname =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|9|22|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Kabul, Afghanistan

| height = 1.90 m

| currentclub = Türk Gücü Friedberg

| clubnumber = 5

| position = Defensive midfield, Central defender

| youthyears1 = 2004

| youthclubs1 = VfB Marburg

| years1 = 2004–2005

| clubs1 = VfB Marburg

| caps1 = 2

| goals1 = 1

| years2 = 2005–2006

| clubs2 = SC Waldgirmes

| caps2 = 30

| goals2 = 1

| years3 = 2006–2007

| clubs3 = Bonner SC

| caps3 = 5

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2007–2009

| clubs4 = SC Waldgirmes

| years5 = 2009–2010

| clubs5 = VfB Marburg

| caps5 = 33

| goals5 = 6

| years6 = 2010–2011

| clubs6 = Eintracht Wetzlar

| caps6 = 34

| goals6 = 5

| years7 = 2011–2012

| clubs7 = Sportfreunde Siegen

| caps7 = 9

| goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2012–2013

| clubs8 = SC Waldgirmes

| caps8 = 26

| goals8 = 6

| years9 = 2013–2015

| clubs9 = TSV Steinbach

| caps9 = 65

| goals9 = 23

| years10 = 2016

| clubs10 = TSV Eintracht Stadtallendorf

| caps10 = 8

| goals10 = 1

| years11 = 2016

| clubs11 = FC Ederbergland

| caps11 = 12

| goals11 = 0

| years12 = 2017

| clubs12 = Türk Gücü Friedberg

| caps12 = 16

| goals12 = 4

| years13 = 2017–2018

| clubs13 = Aizawl

| caps13 = 14

| goals13 = 1

| years14 = 2018–2019

| clubs14 = Dhaka Abahani

| caps14 = 17

| goals14 = 2

| years15 = 2019–2020

| clubs15 = Chennaiyin

| caps15 = 12

| goals15 = 1

| years16 = 2020–2021

| clubs16 = Dhaka Abahani

| caps16= 22

| goals16 = 4

| years17 = 2021

| clubs17 = Real Kashmir

| caps17 = 4

| goals17 = 0

| years18 = 2021–

| clubs18 = Türk Gücü Friedberg

| caps18 = 26

| goals18 = 3

| nationalyears1 = 2015–

| nationalteam1 = Afghanistan

| nationalcaps1 = 13

| nationalgoals1 = 2

| club-update= 19 November 2022

}}

Masih Saighani (Dari: مسیح سیغانی; born 22 September 1986){{Soccerway|masih-saighani/411559}} is an Afghan professional footballer who plays as a defender for German club Türk Gücü Friedberg in Hessenliga, and the Afghanistan national team.{{cite web|last=Strack-Zimmermann|first=Benjamin|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/60605/Masih_Saighani.html|title=NFT player — National team & Club appearances: Saighani, Masih|publisher=National Football Teams|access-date=18 January 2022|archive-date=24 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724104347/https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/60605/Masih_Saighani.html|website=national-football-teams.com}}

Club career

= Aizawl =

On 26 August 2017, Saighani signed for the I-League Champions, Aizawl F.C. This was his first football experience outside Germany where he had been playing since 2004. Masih made his debut for Aizawl in the Mizoram Premier League versus Mizoram Police FC. His I-League debut came vs. East Bengal F.C. in a 2–2 draw. In the following game vs. Churchill Brothers S.C., he was adjudged the Man of the Match for his solid display in defense & playmaking attributes after Aizawl F.C. beat Churchill Brothers S.C. 1–0.{{cite news|url=http://www.goal.com/en-in/match/aizawl-v-churchill-brothers/bluw2e09vkdy28qf4k6fjj5nu|title=I-League 2017: Aizawl 1-0 Churchill Brothers- Yugo's late winner seals the victory for the defending champs|website=Goal.com|date=13 Dec 2017|access-date=4 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213110225/http://www.goal.com/en-in/match/aizawl-v-churchill-brothers/bluw2e09vkdy28qf4k6fjj5nu|archive-date=13 December 2017|url-status=dead}}

Masih made his continental debut for Aizawl F.C. vs. Zob Ahan Esfahan F.C. in the AFC Champions League Qualifiers. The I-League Champions were beaten down 3–1 but Masih & his club's performance received appreciation from the critics. He opened his account in the top tier of Indian Football vs. Indian Arrows in a 2–2 draw.{{cite news |url= http://www.dnaindia.com/sports/report-i-league-indian-arrows-hold-aizawl-fc-to-a-2-2-draw-2585555 |title=I-League: Indian Arrows hold Aizawl FC to a 2-2 draw |newspaper=DNA |date=17 Feb 2018 |accessdate=4 June 2018}}

Saighani finished his debut season in Indian Football with Runners' Up spot in the Mizoram Premier League, Fifth place finish in the I-League & a Quarter Final participation in the Super Cup. He rose to spotlight in the inaugural season.

= Real Kashmir =

In September 2021, Saighani signed with another I-League club Real Kashmir.{{cite web|url=https://iftwc.com/i-league-defender-masih-saighani-signs-for-real-kashmir/|title=I-League – Veteran defender Masih Saighani signs for Real Kashmir|date=5 September 2021|access-date=23 November 2022|website=iftwc.com|publisher=Indian Football Team for World Cup|location=Kolkata|first=Soham|last=Halder|archive-date=5 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210905161725/https://iftwc.com/i-league-defender-masih-saighani-signs-for-real-kashmir/}}

Personal life

Masih Saighani is a Muslim and belongs to Tajik ethnic group. He was born on 22 September 1986 in Kabul. His family is originally from Saighan, Bamyan.{{Cite web|title=Happy Birthday to my Muslim brothers Masih Saighani Facebook|url=https://en-gb.facebook.com/Masih220986|access-date=2021-06-18|website=en-gb.facebook.com|language=en}}

International goals

class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
Goal ! Date ! Venue ! Opponent ! Score ! Result ! Competition
1{{cite web \|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2015/12/26/asia/south-asian-football-federation-championship/bhutan/afghanistan/2157829/ \|title=Bhutan vs. Afghanistan 0 - 3 \|author= \|date= \|website=soccerway.com \|publisher=Perform Group \|access-date=18 January 2018}} \| 24 December 2015 \| Trivandrum International Stadium, Kariavattom, India \| {{fb\|BAN}} \| align="center" \| 1–0 \| align="center" \| 4–0 \| 2015 SAFF Championship
2{{cite web \|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2015/12/24/asia/south-asian-football-federation-championship/afghanistan/bangladesh/2157827/ \|title=Afghanistan vs. Bangladesh 4 - 0 \|author= \|date= \|website=soccerway.com \|publisher=Perform Group \|access-date=18 January 2018}} \| 26 December 2015 \| Trivandrum International Stadium, Kariavattom, India \| {{fb\|BHU}} \| align="center" \| 2–0 \| align="center" \| 3–0 \| 2015 SAFF Championship

class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"

Goal

! Date

! Venue

! Opponent

! Score

! Result

! Competition

1{{cite web |url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2015/12/26/asia/south-asian-football-federation-championship/bhutan/afghanistan/2157829/ |title=Bhutan vs. Afghanistan 0 - 3 |author= |date= |website=soccerway.com |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=18 January 2018}}

| 24 December 2015

| Trivandrum International Stadium, Kariavattom, India

| {{fb|BAN}}

| align="center" | 1–0

| align="center" | 4–0

| 2015 SAFF Championship

2{{cite web |url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2015/12/24/asia/south-asian-football-federation-championship/afghanistan/bangladesh/2157827/ |title=Afghanistan vs. Bangladesh 4 - 0 |author= |date= |website=soccerway.com |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=18 January 2018}}

| 26 December 2015

| Trivandrum International Stadium, Kariavattom, India

| {{fb|BHU}}

| align="center" | 2–0

| align="center" | 3–0

| 2015 SAFF Championship