Jhingan-Less India stands for Afghanistan in the last push for Cafa Nations Cup Playoffs

India will be confronted on Thursday with Afghanistan in the Histor Central Stadium in Home, Tadjikistan with qualification for the Cafa Nations Cup 2025 Play -offs on the line.

The Blue Tigers played two, one won and one lost, against Tajikistan (2-1) and Iran (0-3), so far, so far in the tournament. India is bound with Tadjikistan on three points, and the first is paramount because of a better head-to-head record. The top teams of each group go to the final, while the two second placed teams achieve third place.

India -head coach Khalid Jamil, however, does not think of such permutations and combinations prior to this crucial draw. «We are not thinking of all such scenarios at the moment. It makes no sense. We will go into the game in search of a victory. It’s as simple as that.»

India (133rd in the FIFA rankings) keeps the upper hand against Afghanistan (161st in the FIFA ranking) in the head-to-head record, after 13 times won, while Afghanistan only conquered twice against India; Seven games between the two parties have ended in draws.

Read also | Jhingan to miss the rest of the Cafa Nations Cup as a result of injury

The last match between India and Afghanistan, however, ended in a 1-2 defeat for the Blue Tigers in Guwahati, last year in the World Cup qualifications. The last victory of India against Afghanistan came three years ago, a 2-1 victory in the AFC Asian Cup qualifications in Kolkata. Despite the history, Jamil is approaching the competition with an atmosphere of caution.

«Afghanistan is a good side, so we can’t take it lightly. It has a chance and it will certainly play hard against us,» he said. “Our last result was not up to the goal, so we also have to respond.

«We had less time to recover, so we have to be at our best. Those who have not had much playing time so far must be ready because we may need them to give them 100 percent,» Jamil said.

India, however, will miss the services of the Center-Back Sandesh Jhingan, who, together with goalkeeper Gurpreet Sandhu and defender Rahul Bheke, was mentioned as one of the captains for the Blue Tigers. Jhingan was excluded after saving an injury during the India match against Iran.

Published on 03 September 2025