The Indian men’s football team is gearing up for an exciting match at the CAFA Nations Cup 2025. On Monday, they will face Oman in the third-place playoff match at the Hisor Central Stadium in Tajikistan.
Oman finished second in Group A, just behind Uzbekistan, despite earning the same number of points. Their goal is to end the tournament on a high note by remaining undefeated. Uzbekistan, on the other hand, earned enough points to reach the final, where they will face Iran, the top team from Group B.
India’s Blue Tigers secured their spot in the third-place match after a goalless draw with Afghanistan in their last group game on Thursday. Their qualification was confirmed when Iran and Tajikistan drew 2-2 later that day, according to the ISL website.
India finished the group stage with four points, with one win, one draw, and one loss. Iran topped the group with seven points, while Tajikistan, the host nation, also finished with four points but missed out on the third spot due to head-to-head results. India beat Tajikistan 2-1 in their opening match, which gave them the edge. Afghanistan, with just a single point, was eliminated early.
This upcoming match is a great chance for India to finish on the podium, while Oman will try to keep their unbeaten streak alive and finish the tournament strongly.
In other news, injuries have hit the Indian team. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) and FC Goa announced that defender Sandesh Jhingan suffered a cheekbone fracture during India’s match against Iran. Despite the injury, Jhingan played the entire 90 minutes in India’s 0-3 loss—showing his incredible determination. He was later taken back to India on Wednesday and is currently receiving treatment.
Stay tuned as India aims to make a strong finish at the CAFA Nations Cup 2025!
