The Indian men’s football team were forced to settle for a 0-0 draw against Afghanistan in their final group stage encounter at the CAFA Nations Cup 2025, played at the Hisor Central Stadium on Thursday evening.
Despite dominating long phases of the match and creating multiple chances, India failed to find the finishing touch. Their hopes of progressing to the playoff stage now rest on the result of the Tajikistan vs Iran clash later tonight.
India head coach Khalid Jamil named his starting XI, signaling attacking intent with Ashique Kuruniyan and Irfan Yadwad in the forward line. The game kicked off at 5:30 PM IST, with India knowing only a win would guarantee a place in the playoff.
India’s first real chance came in the 18th minute when Ashique Kuruniyan’s clever work on the wing set up Irfan Yadwad, but the striker completely miscued his shot from close range. Afghanistan responded strongly, with Gurpreet Singh Sandhu called into action to make a diving save and deny Ali Reza Panaji’s fierce long-range strike.
India kept pushing forward, and in the 30th minute, Yadwad went close again, this time with a left-footed drive from a narrow angle that whistled just wide of the far post. Moments later, Ashique’s intensity saw him booked after colliding with the Afghan goalkeeper while chasing down a loose ball.
India’s buildup play looked promising throughout the half. Ashique cut inside from the left and unleashed a 20-yard shot that was blocked, before Jithin MS almost broke the deadlock with a powerful effort that flew inches over the bar in the 43rd minute. Despite sustained pressure, the first half ended 0-0.
Tactical Changes in the Second Half
Khalid rang in changes at the start of the second half as Manvir Singh and Vikram Partap Singh replaced Ashique and Yadwad, injecting fresh energy into the attack.
But Afghanistan continued to threaten on the counter. The closest they came was in the 65th minute when Yama Sherzad unleashed a thunderous strike from distance, only for Gurpreet Singh Sandhu to pull off a world-class fingertip save, tipping the ball onto the crossbar.
India’s lack of cutting edge in the final third prompted a triple substitution with Udanta Singh, Danish Farooq Bhat, and Lallianzuala Chhangte replacing Jithin MS, Suresh Singh Wangjam, and Mahesh Singh Naorem. The changes added more pace and width, but Afghanistan’s disciplined defending frustrated the Indians.
The final roll of the dice came with Roshan Singh Naorem replacing Muhammed Uvais. India pushed hard in the closing minutes, earning multiple set-piece opportunities, but their deliveries failed to trouble the Afghan backline.
Stalemate and Uncertain Fate
After 90 minutes of relentless effort, India were left to rue their missed chances as the game ended 0-0. Despite controlling possession and creating the better openings, the Blue Tigers’ finishing deserted them.
The result leaves India’s fate in the tournament hanging by a thread. Their progress to the playoffs will now depend on the outcome of the Tajikistan vs Iran fixture later in the day.
Key Takeaways
- Gurpreet Singh Sandhu’s heroics once again underlined his importance, with two big saves keeping India in the game.
- Finishing woes hurt India, with Yadwad, Jithin, and Mandeep (later) all missing clear chances.
- Jamil’s substitutions added urgency but couldn’t change the final outcome.
India’s defensive solidity will give Jamil some encouragement, but the lack of goals in a must-win game is likely to spark further debate around the team’s attacking setup heading into the next phase of the competition.
