India ended a 31-year drought against Oman with a dramatic penalty shootout victory to clinch the bronze medal at the CAFA Nations Cup 2025.
The Blue Tigers, who had beaten Oman only once in 11 previous meetings, showed immense resilience after falling behind, equalising late through Udanta Singh, and finally relying on captain Gurpreet Singh Sandhu’s heroics in the shootout to seal a famous win.
The match kicked off in Hisor at 5:30 PM IST with both sides cautiously feeling each other out. India had the first major opportunity in the 16th minute when Nikhil Prabhu flicked on a long throw from Uvais, setting up Anwar Ali inside the box. Anwar’s instinctive header seemed destined for the net, but Oman goalkeeper Al Mukhaini produced a strong save to deny India an early lead.
Oman responded just before the half-hour mark when Al Rawahi broke through on goal with only Gurpreet to beat, but he dragged his shot agonisingly wide of the far post. The rest of the half was largely balanced, with India’s wingers Chhangte and Mahesh attempting to create chances from the flanks, while Oman sat deep and looked to hit on the counter.
At the stroke of halftime, Chhangte dazzled with his footwork on the right, skipping past his marker before cutting the ball back for Irfan Yadwad. The forward’s first-time shot, however, missed the target, keeping the score level at the break.
Oman Strike First, India Chase
The second half resumed with India bringing on Jithin MS for Vikram Pratap Singh to add fresh legs. Despite a promising start, it was Oman who took the lead in the 55th minute. Jameel Al Yahmadi diverted a low drive from Fawaz into the bottom corner, leaving Gurpreet wrong-footed and giving Oman a crucial 1-0 advantage.
India’s response came through a flurry of substitutions. Khalid Jamil introduced Manvir Singh and Roshan Singh in the 64th minute, followed by Udanta Singh and Suresh Wangjam in the 78th. The changes injected pace and energy, with the Blue Tigers pushing hard for an equaliser.
The breakthrough arrived in the 80th minute. Rahul Bheke’s trademark long throw was flicked on by Danish Farooq and fell kindly for substitute Udanta Singh. The winger made no mistake, nodding the ball into the bottom corner to bring India level at 1-1. The equaliser shifted momentum in India’s favour, but Oman still looked threatening on set-pieces.
With neither side able to score again in regulation time, the match headed into extra time. Just six minutes into the added period, Oman suffered a major setback as Ali Al Busaidi was shown a red card, reducing them to ten men.
India pressed hard with the numerical advantage, and Anwar Ali came close in the 101st minute with a thunderous strike from 35 yards. Al Mukhaini was equal to it, punching the ball clear. Despite constant Indian pressure, Oman held firm, taking the game into penalties after 120 gruelling minutes.
The Shootout: Gurpreet’s Moment
The penalty shootout tested nerves on both sides. Lallianzuala Chhangte opened India’s account with composure, before Oman’s Harib Al Saadi fired wide to hand India an early advantage. Rahul Bheke made it 2-0, and Ahmed Al Kaani ballooned his spot kick to put Oman under immense pressure.
When Anwar Ali’s penalty was saved by Al Mukhaini, Oman found a lifeline. Thani Al Rushaidi and Musher Al Ghassani converted their kicks, while Jithin MS scored India’s third with a cheeky finish. Udanta, however, missed his attempt, leaving Oman a chance to force sudden death.
It all came down to Jameel Al Yahmadi. If he scored, the shootout would continue. But standing in his way was India’s ever-reliable captain Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. The Bengaluru FC goalkeeper guessed right, diving low to his left to deny Yahmadi and spark wild celebrations among the Blue Tigers.
The final shootout tally read: India 3 (✅✅❌✅❌) – 2 Oman (❌❌✅✅❌).
Bronze Medal, Historic Win
With the victory, India not only claimed the bronze medal at the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 but also ended their long winless run against Oman. Their only previous win had come in 1994, a 4-1 triumph. Since then, Oman had dominated the rivalry with seven wins and three draws, but this night in Hisor belonged to India.
The result was also a personal redemption for Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, who had faced criticism earlier in the tournament but delivered when it mattered most. His decisive save will go down as one of the defining moments of Indian football in 2025.
Looking Ahead
For head coach Khalid Jamil, the win is a milestone in his tenure. His bold substitutions, particularly bringing on Udanta, paid off handsomely. The team’s resilience after conceding and their ability to capitalise on Oman’s red card highlighted a growing maturity.
While the bronze medal may not carry the prestige of a title, the victory is symbolic. It showcased India’s fighting spirit, gave younger players like Jithin and Danish crucial experience, and underlined the leadership of Gurpreet and Bheke.
Most importantly, it gave Indian football a moment of pride on the continental stage – a reminder that the Blue Tigers are capable of rising to big occasions.
Final Score:
India 1–1 Oman (India win 3-2 on penalties)
Scorers:
Oman – Jameel Al Yahmadi (55’)
India – Udanta Singh (80’)
Key Moment: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu saves Yahmadi’s penalty in the shootout to secure bronze.
