How Has 'Hard Work and Belief' Propelled India to the CAFA Nations Cup Play-off?

New Delhi, Sep 7 (NationPress) Although this marks India’s first venture into the CAFA Nations Cup, the men’s national football team, ranked second-lowest in the tournament, is gearing up for the third-place match against Oman at the Hisor Central Stadium in Hisor, Tajikistan, on Monday.

After competing in three matches, India has secured one victory (against Tajikistan), suffered one defeat (to Iran), and drawn one match (against Afghanistan), successfully eliminating both Tajikistan and Afghanistan from the tournament. Blue Tigers head coach Khalid Jamil expressed his optimism during the pre-match press conference, highlighting the positive atmosphere surrounding the team.

“All our players are in good spirits following these results. We must carry this positivity into the next game. I genuinely believe we can achieve a positive outcome,” Jamil stated. “From the outset, we felt we could accomplish something significant here, and it’s the determination and hard work of our players that have led us to the play-off stage of the CAFA Nations Cup.

“The dedication exhibited by our players has been remarkable—whether they are seniors or juniors, everyone has played a role. Their ability to adjust to the conditions has been commendable. I never had the impression that we were merely here to participate; we came with a purpose, and the overall sentiment has been positive,” he added.

While Jamil fosters an atmosphere of optimism, he remains cautious about the potential challenge posed by 79th-ranked Oman; India currently sits at 133rd in the FIFA rankings.

“Oman is a formidable team. They have a skilled coach (Carlos Queiroz) and talented players, having performed well in their group. This will undoubtedly be a tough match, and we will have to fight for every inch. However, we are prepared,” he affirmed.

India has faced Oman 10 times in the past, but the Blue Tigers have yet to secure a win. Oman has triumphed in seven of those encounters, with three ending in draws.

Despite this historical record, Jamil is determined to secure a victory, asserting, “Our primary objective is to achieve a positive result—that’s the most crucial aspect.”

India has netted two goals (both in a 2-1 triumph over hosts Tajikistan), both originating from set-pieces. While Jamil’s squad is focused on enhancing their scoring capabilities, the head coach emphasizes the importance of a strong collective performance.

“The method of scoring is less significant; what truly matters is the overall performance. Goals may come from open play or set-pieces—it’s all part of the game. Ultimately, securing results is what counts,” he remarked.

“Of course, we are also concentrating on scoring from open play. We will persist until we succeed. We’ve generated numerous chances, but I believe we can create even more and convert them effectively,” he noted. “Our focus is now on the upcoming matches against Singapore in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Group C Qualifiers next month, but we must concentrate on one game at a time.”

“I have maintained from the beginning that our participation in the CAFA Nations Cup was an excellent decision. The more matches we play, the better we improve. It’s a valuable opportunity for team development,” he stated. “But at this moment, our sole focus is on the match against Oman.”

Defender Boris Singh Thangjam, speaking at the press conference, emphasized the players’ recovery over the past three days following their goalless draw against Afghanistan.

“Oman is a highly competitive team, but we know our game plan. We’ve been preparing diligently over the last three days, and everyone has recovered well. We aim to deliver our best performance,” Boris concluded.