Pakistan’s hockey team reached the FIH Nations Cup final after a thrilling 3-2 shootout victory over France in Kuala Lumpur. But it wasn’t just the game that caught attention. Captain Ammad Butt’s Instagram story, “Rafale down again,” sparked a wave of online reactions.
The post seemed to reference Pakistan’s past claims of downing Indian Rafale jets, which are made in France. His remark tied the sporting win to past military events, stirring emotions on social media. The story has since been deleted, but screenshots circulated widely.
The match itself was intense. France scored twice by the third quarter. Pakistan quickly responded through Waheed Ashraf and Sufiyan Muqeem. Ashraf scored again, but France equalised in the final seconds, forcing a penalty shootout.
Goalkeeper Muneeb ur Rehman saved three shots during the shootout. Meanwhile, Afraz, Hanan Shahid, and Waheed converted theirs, sending Pakistan to the final. Their next challenge is New Zealand in today’s final.
The social media moment added drama off the field, but on the turf, Pakistan’s comeback showed determination. The win boosts hopes of a long-awaited major hockey title for the nation.