Having hurled missiles at the police lines, the 20-year-old went on to commit a string of serious offences in the area including four robberies and the burglary a betting shop.
Inner London Crown Court was told how the defendant had been involved in the trouble around the West Croydon and London Road area and was captured on CCTV throwing bricks and other missiles towards lines of police.
The defendant robbed a man and his wife from a local store of money as well targeting a man at a cash machine. He also embarked on a theft spree in a supermarket.
He went on to commit a further burglary at a betting shop in Thornton Heath.
However, his fate was sealed when officers on the Met's Op Withern investigation team analysing CCTV found that Ahmadzai had visited the UK Border Agency's Electric House reporting centre in Croydon earlier on August 8.
He was quickly arrested and, at a court hearing late last year, pleaded guilty to ten charges including violent disorder, criminal damage, robbery and burglary.
Det Supt Simon Messinger, from Croydon CID, said: "The length of this sentence reflects the fact that Ahmadzai committed a string of serious offences.
"He was one of the very first people to throw missiles at officers and played an active role in encouraging others to engage in the disorder. We will be relentless in our pursuit of those who committed offences back in August."
DC David Smailes, from the Operation Withern team who investigated the offences committed by Ahmadzai added: "The weight of evidence against him was great, and the severity of the offences has led to this sentence."
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