New Delhi, April 10 (NationPress) Just 32 days after their AFC Women's Asian Cup journey ended in disappointment, the Indian women's national soccer team is gearing up for a fresh start at the FIFA Series 2026 in Kenya. The Blue Tigresses will kick off their campaign against the host nation at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi this Saturday.

While the sting of not advancing to the knockout stage remains, the players recognize that each conclusion paves the way for new beginnings, serving as their primary inspiration ahead of this four-team friendly tournament.

Crispin Chettri, once again leading the Blue Tigresses, emphasized, "The goal is to lay the groundwork for the future, focusing on the upcoming AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2029 qualifiers and the 2031 World Cup qualifiers. We must start now."

Chettri had previously guided India to qualification for the Asian Cup last year and was an assistant during the tournament. “The expectation was clear; we should have progressed to the quarter-finals from the group stage. The players shared this sentiment, so there is a sense of disappointment,” Chettri remarked.

Having arrived in Nairobi on April 7, the team has already conducted two training sessions, with one more scheduled before facing the hosts. “The players are mentally more prepared now. Their focus is solely on the upcoming match,” Chettri noted.

The favorable conditions in Kenya have also supported their preparation. “Training conditions are excellent. The weather is pleasant, around 26 to 27 degrees, which is ideal for training,” Chettri said, reflecting on their initial sessions.

The FIFA Series includes India, hosts Kenya, Malawi, and Australia, providing a compact competitive framework despite being a friendly tournament. India is set to compete against Kenya in the second semi-final, while Australia will face Malawi in the first, starting at 16:30 IST. This marks the first time the Indian women's national team will play in Africa.

Beyond chasing victories, the tournament has a strategic significance, aimed at preparing for the SAFF Women’s Championship 2026, scheduled in Goa from May 25. The squad selection has been made with short-term readiness and long-term growth in mind.

Chettri has chosen a younger squad, as several senior players are unavailable due to injuries and rehabilitation. The average age of the 22-member squad traveling to Kenya is just 22.8 years. Of the 26 players who participated in the Asian Cup, 17 were selected by Chettri for this window. Goalkeeper Panthoi Chanu Elangbam and defender Sweety Devi Ngangbam are recovering from injuries sustained during the last Asian Cup match against Chinese Taipei, while defender Sanju, midfielder Sangita Basfore, and forwards Grace Dangmei and Soumya Guguloth have been rested.

Additionally, forward Manisha, who recently signed with Liga Femenina FPF (Peruvian Women’s League) club Alianza Lima, has been granted time to focus on her club career. Chettri explained, “With her league in Peru starting, I recommended she stay there to concentrate on securing a starting position at Alianza Lima. She has had a busy schedule, so more time with her club will be beneficial.”

The absence of experienced players has opened opportunities for emerging talents, aligning with Chettri's vision to expand India's player pool as they prepare for the next qualification cycle. The 2026 Asian Cup will be the last to provide World Cup-qualifying slots. For the 2031 edition, a standalone qualifying tournament will be organized by the AFC, enhancing the competitive landscape for women's national teams in Asia.

“We understand the capabilities of our senior players, making this an ideal moment to evaluate younger talents like Kaviya Pakkirisamy, Jasoda Munda, and Malavika P,” Chettri stated. “Most of our players are aged 22-23, allowing them to potentially contribute to the national team for the next six to seven years. Our goal is to establish a larger pool of about 40 competitive players, including those from the U20 and U17 teams.”

“That's why we have included more junior players, to create a system, provide exposure, and prepare adequately for the SAFF Women's Championship.”

“With only three days of training before our first match, I needed fit players. Many are coming from clubs like Sethu, Sribhumi, and East Bengal, where they are actively training. We also have players from police teams who have just completed a tournament in Hyderabad.”

On the pitch, India is gearing up for a different challenge. Unlike the technical and tactical demands posed by most East and Southeast Asian teams, Kenya presents a more physical style of play.

“The FIFA Series will challenge our physical capabilities. Teams like Kenya and Malawi may have lower FIFA rankings (134th and 153rd), but rankings can be deceptive. Kenya has players competing in the USA and Europe,” Chettri remarked.

“They are quick, strong, and highly physical. This will be a different challenge compared to the likes of Japan, Korea, Thailand, or Vietnam, whom we've faced in the past year. Our task is to manage that physicality. It will be an intriguing match-up. A win could set us up against Australia, who were finalists at the Asian Cup, presenting a fantastic opportunity.”

“We qualified for the Asian Cup after a long absence, and we aim to make that a consistent achievement. The SAFF Championship can serve as valuable preparation for future Asian Cup and World Cup qualifiers. In the short term, improving our ranking through match victories is essential, as it will help us secure better positions in the pots and potentially easier opponents in qualifiers.”

Central to this long-term objective is the integration of youth players into the senior squad. Chettri has closely monitored the AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup, where India concluded their campaign with a victory over Chinese Taipei. The Young Tigresses' head coach believes many U20 players may soon be ready to join the senior team.

“I concur with Joakim. Before the Asian Cup qualifiers last year, we maintained constant communication about the U20 players. We even included several junior players—like Shubhangi (Singh), Thoibisana (Chanu Toijam), Cindy (Colney), and Sulanjana (Raul)—in our preparation camp, and Monalisha (Devi Moirangthem) was already part of the senior squad.”

“There are numerous promising players not only in the U20s but also in the U17s. From the U20 cohort, I believe three to four players will soon vie for spots, not just in the squad, but even in the starting XI.”

As India prepares to take the field in Nairobi, the aim, alongside achieving results, will be to recalibrate, test their depth, and set the stage for a journey leading through the SAFF Championship, Asian Cup, and World Cup qualifiers.