Is the Naushad Moosa-led India U23 Team Ready for the Tajikistan Challenge?

New Delhi, June 17 (NationPress) The India U23 men's squad has arrived in Tajikistan to engage in two friendly matches against the local team and the Kyrgyz Republic. The Blue Colts are scheduled to face Tajikistan first on Wednesday at the Hisor Central Stadium.

Under the leadership of head coach Naushad Moosa, the India U23 team had been training in Kolkata since June 1 prior to their journey to Central Asia. After landing in the capital Dushanbe on Monday evening, Moosa's 23-member team participated in a mobility session on Tuesday morning, followed by a 90-minute training session in the evening. On June 21, India will take on the Kyrgyz Republic in their second match.

"The boys are very eager for tomorrow. I've been discussing with them how crucial these matches will be for our development," stated Moosa, who is on his second tour with the U23 team, having previously coached them in friendlies against Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur last year.

For the Blue Colts, these matches in Tajikistan are essential preparations for the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers set to occur in September. India will compete against Bahrain, Qatar, and Brunei Darussalam, aiming to qualify for the U23 Continental event for the first time.

Although Dushanbe is situated 700 meters above sea level, the temperatures can reach nearly 40 degrees Celsius during the day at this time of year. The Blue Colts will need to adjust to the artificial turf of Hisor Central Stadium, located 25 kilometers from Dushanbe. Moosa hopes for a strong turnout at the venue, which has a capacity of 20,000.

"The weather is quite warm. It's typical for us. Having supporters in the stands is always a plus, and we would love to have them cheer for us. Most of our players are visiting here for the first time, so it would act as great motivation. I recall the last time the Indian senior team played in Tajikistan, there was considerable Indian fan presence in the stadium, and we hope to see that again," said the 53-year-old.

The Tajikistan U23s last played in November 2024, suffering defeats in two friendlies against the United Arab Emirates, both by a 0-3 scoreline. In the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2024, Tajikistan was eliminated in the group stage after losses to Iraq and Saudi Arabia, along with a victory against Thailand. However, youth football sees team structures change annually, and Moosa anticipates a different yet formidable challenge on Wednesday.

"We recognize Tajikistan as a strong contender. They qualified for the U23 Asian Cup last year and performed admirably at the senior Asian Cup. The players will, of course, differ from those we faced before. The coaching staff has also changed. We just need to focus on executing our game plan effectively," concluded Moosa.