Can India Secure Victory Against Afghanistan for CAFA Nations Cup Play-offs?

New Delhi, Sep 4 (NationPress) A crucial qualification slot in the Playoff Stage of the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 is at stake as India faces off against Afghanistan in their final Group B match at the Hisor Central Stadium in Hisor, Tajikistan, on Thursday. The Indian men's team must secure a victory in this must-win encounter and rely on favorable outcomes from other matches to maintain their tournament hopes.

So far in the CAFA Nations Cup, India has played two games, achieving one win and one loss against Tajikistan (2-1) and IR Iran (0-3), respectively. Currently, the Blue Tigers are tied with Tajikistan at three points, but they lead due to a superior head-to-head record. The top teams from each group will advance to the finals, while the two second-placed teams will compete for third place on September 8.

At this point, the Blue Tigers require a win against Afghanistan and must hope that Tajikistan does not triumph over Iran to move forward. A draw against Afghanistan may suffice, provided that the match between Iran and Tajikistan also concludes in a draw or an Iranian win. However, a loss would spell elimination, as Tajikistan would possess a better goal difference in the event that all three teams finish with three points each (Tajikistan, India, and Afghanistan).

Head coach Khalid Jamil remains focused and is not contemplating various scenarios ahead of this pivotal match.

“We are not considering such possibilities at this moment. There is no purpose in that,” Jamil stated, as quoted by the-aiff.com. “Our aim is to go into the game seeking a win. It’s as straightforward as that.”

India’s victory against the host nation Tajikistan in their opening match marked their first competitive win since November 2023. Although the 0-3 loss to Iran might suggest otherwise, the Blue Tigers are keeping a positive mindset.

“We are disappointed that we performed well in the first half, but things did not pan out for us in the second half. I acknowledge that I made a mistake with the substitution during that time, which led to their goal,” Jamil remarked. “However, this is a learning curve for both the players and the coach. We will take these lessons with us and move on.”

“I commend my players for executing my instructions. They displayed great attitude against a team of superior quality. Ultimately, the scoreline was not reflective of our performance; we did not merit a 0-3 defeat,” he added.

Ranked 133rd in the FIFA rankings, India has historically fared better than Afghanistan, ranked 161st, winning 13 of their encounters. Afghanistan has only managed to triumph twice, with seven matches resulting in draws.

Nonetheless, the Blue Tigers have a tendency to stumble in high-pressure matches, as evidenced by their previous encounter with Afghanistan, which ended in a 1-2 loss during the World Cup qualifiers last year. India’s last victory against Afghanistan was three years ago, a 2-1 win in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers held in Kolkata.

Despite this history, Jamil is approaching the match with caution.

“Afghanistan is a formidable side, and we cannot underestimate them. They have the potential to upset us, and they will certainly compete fiercely,” he noted. “Our last result was below par, so it's imperative we respond accordingly.”

“With limited recovery time, we need to be at our peak. Players who have had limited game time must be prepared to give their all, as we may rely on them,” Jamil added.

However, India will be without the services of centre-back Sandesh Jhingan, who, alongside goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and defender Rahul Bheke, was named one of the captains for the Blue Tigers.

“I’ve never encountered a player as courageous as Sandesh. Even with an injury, he continued to play in the last match. Few players can exhibit such tenacity,” Jamil expressed. “His absence will be felt, as he is a tremendous motivator both on and off the pitch. Finding a replacement for him is challenging, but this situation allows others to elevate their game.”

Defender Rahul Bheke is enjoying the challenge of competing against strong Central Asian teams as part of India’s preparation for the upcoming Asian Cup qualifiers against Singapore next month.

“From the very first day of the camp, the new players have been proving themselves, and this experience in the CAFA Nations Cup has been beneficial for all of us,” Bheke shared on the eve of the match against Afghanistan. “Everyone understands the significance of being part of the national team and how critical it is for us to perform well in a tournament like this.

“I believe the boys have demonstrated our improvement. The real test lies ahead in our third game. We must perform better and secure a positive outcome,” Bheke concluded.