The Indian men's football team has advanced to the third-place playoff of the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 despite a 0-0 draw against Afghanistan in their final Group B match. The match, held at the Hisor Central Stadium in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on Thursday, September 4, 2025, saw India secure a crucial point, placing them second in Group B with four points.
India's qualification for the third-place playoff was confirmed after Iran and Tajikistan played out a 2-2 draw later the same day. This result ensured that Iran topped Group B with seven points, while India finished ahead of Tajikistan due to a better head-to-head record, having defeated them 2-1 in their opening match. Afghanistan, with only one point, were knocked out of the tournament.
The goalless draw against Afghanistan was adisplay of resilience from the Indian side, who had to rely on goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu to keep a clean sheet. Sandhu made a crucial save in the final minute of regulation time, denying Afghanistan a late winner. Despite creating several threatening positions, India was unable to find the final ball to break the deadlock.
The first half saw India creating more clear-cut chances, with Ashique Kuruniyan and Irfan Yadwad being particularly active. However, Afghanistan's physical gameplay disrupted India's momentum, preventing them from creating clear-cut chances. In the 24th minute, Sandhu was called into action, making a smart save from a long shot by Ali Reza Panahi.
After the change of ends, India gained more control of the game, but head coach Khalid Jamil's changes in the second half did not yield a goal. Afghanistan also had their chances, with Gurpreet Singh Sandhu again coming to India's rescue in the 70th minute.
India's journey in the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 has been a mix of highs and lows. They started with a 2-1 victory over Tajikistan. However, they suffered a 3-0 defeat to defending champions Iran in their second match. After a goalless first half, Iran scored three goals in the second period, including two late goals, to secure the win.
Looking ahead, India will now face the team that finishes second in Group A in the third-place playoff on September 8. As it stands, Oman and Uzbekistan are the frontrunners in Group A, with both teams locked on four points.
The CAFA Nations Cup is a biennial tournament contested by the countries of Central Asia. India's participation in the 2025 edition came after an invitation from CAFA, marking their debut in the competition. The tournament is being co-hosted by Uzbekistan and Tajikistan from August 29 to September 8, 2025.
