India vs Afghanistan (IND vs AFG) Football Today Match, CAFA Nations Cup 2025: India and Afghanistan played out a draw in a match that saw chances at a premium with both teams’ forwards failing to really trouble the goalkeepers. The result meant that India are still in the race for a 3rd place playoff match depending on the result of Iran vs Tajikistan later on Thursday.
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Jamil’s start to life as India head coach has been a fairly good one, with the only real blemish being a rather puzzling tweak in formation he made in the early minutes of the second half against Iran, which ultimately led to India finally conceding a goal. The sheer gap in quality after that meant that India finally buckled, especially after Iran brought on their big guns in Mehdi Taremi and Alireza Jahanbakhsh.
But unlike Tajikistan and Iran, 161st-ranked Afghanistan are placed well below India (133) and so Jamil’s men will now be looking to record another victory. Despite being the overwhelming underdogs against Iran, India were guilty of squandering a few goalscoring chances and giving the ball away too easily. This is the chance Jamil has to get his team to break out of a defensive mindset and test the side’s potential in attack.
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Now then, there's a free kick for Afghanistan in the dying moments of the match. Nothing much from it. And a wild ball to send it for a goal kick. That ball is perfectly emblematic of this match. And it's all over. Ends in stalemate. India very much alive for their 3rd place play offs, depending on the match between Tajikistan and iran.
FT: IND 0-0 AFG
Anwar with a cross field pass, gets to Udanta who floats the ball near the mouth of the AFG goal towards Manvir but it's defended by AFG.
IND 0-0 AFG
4 mins have been added now. Can India do something in the time remaining as Uvais goes off to bring Roshan.
Cheap give away by India as AFG hover around the Indian penalty box. Get a corner. What can they do with this one? Fatemi to take and the follow up is straight at Gurpreet.
IND 0-0 AFG
Afghanistan come again and another attempted cross is blocked by Anwar Ali. He has been a wall in defence tonight. Gurpreet has the ball in his possession now and India can break again.
IND 0-0 AFG
Another free kick played back by AFG but they just can't get into the India penalty box. India, meanwhile, are defending resolutely but are toothless in attack, constantly giving away the ball.
IND 0-0 AFG
Afghanistan are trying for long ball in behind India's defence trying to take advantage of the tiring legs. And get a free kick for their troubles. Zamani's lobs it high and Gurpreet easily colects it.
IND 0-0 AFG
Back after the drinks break and India have 15 mins to get something from this one. Vikram with a cross now but that's disappointing as it goes behind for an AFG goal kick.
IND 0-0 AFG
It's a pretty cagey affair as both teams are suspect going forwards. Afghanistan with a corner now after bheke clears a cross. AAAAND ALMOST AN OPENING GOAL!! Gurpreet gets a hand to it and it bounces off the cross bar and goes out!!
IND 0-0 AFG
Afghanistan playing out from the back now but India get it back and tries a counter attack but get a throw. Follows that out with another long throw but Jithin with a wild swing and that's way over the post.
IND 0-0 AFG
Vikram makes his way in behind the defender now and he goes down and asks for a foul but the referee isn't interested. Just a goal kick for Afghanistan.
IND 0-0 AFG
India are knocking at the doors of the Afghanistan defence but their goalkeeper Hamidi has been equal to all their efforts. He's coming out from his goal line at the most opportune time and clearing the threat.
IND 0-0 AFG
Wild, wild long ball by Afghanistan to hand India the throw. Mahesh is fouled and India have a free kick near the flank. Suresh takes it but Afghanistan defend. Free kick for AFG now for hand ball by Vikram
IND 0-0 AFG
Vikram with a weighted ball to Manvir but it's cleared. Good, measured pass by the Indian player hough and they'll need more of that. Jithin with a cross next but Hamidi gets his mitts on it comfortably.
IND 0-0 AFG
And we are off for the second half and Afghanistan immediately takes a wild shot which goes over the Indfia goal to give the Blue Tigers a goal kick.
IND 0-0 AFG
And that's all she wrote for this half as both teams go into half time with the score at 0-0. Not too many chances created. Something has to give in the second half if India need to qualify for the playoffs
HT: IND 0-0 AFG
India foray deep into the Afghanistan box as Jithin takes a good run, tries a cross but it's defended. And there's a half turn from Jithin from the corner but that's just gone over!!
IND 0-0 AFG
It's been a pretty start-stop match as tackles flow left, right and centre. Now a foul on Balal and AFG have a free kick. And they give it way before Musawi is brought down but no foul. 5 mins added
IND 0-0 AFG
40 mins are up and it's still anybody's game. You can sense AFG's frustration as one of their players tries a long ranger from an angle and that goes out. Meanwhile, they have lost Shehzad with a shoulder injury.
IND 0-0 AFG
Brilliant play from India as Ashique pulls off a rainbow flick over the AFG defender but fouls him in the process. Free kick for AFG and Musawi with a beautiful low cross that India deffend.
IND 0-0 AFG
India are opting for a high press in this match and it's working to a certain extent with the Afghanistan defenders losing the ball. Ashique gets the ball, the goalie comes out and a 50-50 challenge and he has fouled the keeper. Yellow card. Pretty harsh I would say, there was no malice in that. Had every right to go for the ball
IND 0-0 AFG
Ashique with a run inside the Afghanistan penalty area and tries to shift right but the AFG defenders have it figured out. A little predictable from the Indian player. A free kick for India now though. Nothing off it. Players go out for a drink now.
IND 0-0 AFG
Irfan with the goalkeeper at his mercy and what has he done!!! He just puts it wide off the mark!! The flag is up though which saves Irfan from embarrassment. But it was still a weak, weak effort.
IND 0-0 AFG
Ohhh!!! That was very very close for Afghanistan as Panahi gets the ball at the edge of the area and puts its laces through it and Gurpreet with a tremendous save!! Should have closed Panahi down earlier.
IND 0-0 AFG
Afghanistan with most of the ball now but India getting it back and a Hollywood pass by Mahesh towards Ashique on the left flank but it goes out.
IND 0-0 AFG
Free kick for Afghanistan as Skandari lobs it into the box but it's a bit low for any AFG players. India get the ball for a counter attack with Irfan going almost 1 on 1 with the AFG goalie but it's kicked away.
IND 0-0 AFG
Brilliant feet from Mahesh as he skips past a few white shirts only to be stopped by Balal. India though still have the ball as they look for a counter. Ohhh!!! Ashique cuts back towards Irfan and he miskicks!!
IND 0-0 AFG
Afghanistan are buzzing around at the edge of the Indian penalty box but a resolute Indian defence refuse to let them pass. A wayward through ball next which gives India the goal kick. Oh what do we have here? There's a tug and Irfan goes down in the penalty box. Referee checks and clears it. No penalty.
IND 0-0 AFG
A free kick right at the edge of the Afghanistan half for India as Irfan's shirt is pulled back. A corner now which Mahesh swings in but it's defended. Falls to Anwar Ali who takes a wild swing and it goes out.
IND 0-0 AFG
Ashique tries to beat his man with pace but gets a throw. Time for a long throw? No, he keeps it short and Mahesh tries to float the ball inside but Afghanistan take possession back.
IND 0-0 AFG
Afghanistan's first foray into the Indian penalty box but it's cleared away by the Blue Tigers defence. Both teams have started on the front foot.
IND 0-0 AFG
13 seconds in the match and India get the ball and Suresh gets a shot away. Pretty direct approach from India, showing their intent on pressing high.
IND 0-0 AFG
India, who beat Tajikistan in their opening match and then lost to Iran, are expected to beat Afghanistan in this match with India ranked 133 to Afghanistan's 161
And it's almost time for the match to begin. India come out in their familiar blue kit while Afghanistan are decked in all whites. National anthems underway.
“Afghanistan are a good side, so we cannot take them lightly. They have a chance, and they will definitely play hard against us. Our last result was not up to the mark, so we need to respond likewise. We’ve had less time to recover, so we need to be at our best. Those who have not had much game time so far need to be ready, as we might need them to give their 100 per cent,” India head coach Khalid Jamil had said in pre-match press conference.
IND: L,W
AFG: L,L
The last time these two sides met was in Sunil Chhetri's 150th match where the former India captain scored a penalty in te 38th minute. But Rahmat Akbari equalized for Afghanistan in the 70th minute while Sharif Mukhammad scored a 88th minute penalty to help AFG pull off the shocker.
IND: Gurpreet; Valpuia, Bheke, Anwar, Uvais; Nikhil, Suresh; Ashique, Mahesh, Jithin; Irfan
AFG: Faisal Hamidi; Zelfagar Nazary, Amid Arezou, Mahboob Hanifi, Balal Arezou, Taufee Skandari, Qamaruddin Kouhyar, Yama Sherzad, Mohammad Rahimi, Ali Panahi, Omid Musawi
September 8, Monday: Third-place match
September 8, Monday: Final
Afghanistan's last win was back in 2024 which was against India in the World Cup qualifier where they ended the Blue Tigers' hopes of playing in the 2026 edition in USA next year. Since then, they have lost 8 straight times and drawn one, which extends their winless run to 9 matches.
Group A: Uzbekistan, Oman, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan
Group B: India, Tajikistan, Iran, Afghanistan
After the CAFA Nation's Cup, India have two matches against Singapore (Home and Away) in the crucial Asia Cup qualifiers in October 9 and 14. They will then face off against Bangladesh and Hong Kong for the qualifiers on November 18 and March 31 respectively.
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Amrinder Singh, Hrithik Tiwari, Rahul Bheke, Naorem Roshan Singh, Anwar Ali, Sandesh Jhingan, Chinglensana Singh Konsham, Hmingthanmawia Ralte, Muhammed Uvais, Nikhil Prabhu, Suresh Singh Wangjam, Danish Farooq Bhat, Thounaojam Jeakson Singh, Boris Singh Thangjam, Ashique Kuruniyan, Udanta Singh Kumam, Naorem Mahesh Singh, Irfan Yadwad, Manvir Singh (jr), Jithin MS, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Vikram Partap Singh.
India’s last win against Afghanistan came three years ago, a 2-1 victory in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers in Kolkata.
Ahead of the important clash against Afghanistan, India were dealt a huge injury blow when they lost their captain Sandesh Jhingan due to injury.
“I’ve never seen a player as brave as Sandesh. Even with the injury, he kept playing in the last match. Not many players can do that,” said head coach Jamil.
The Top 2 teams from each group will qualify for the final of the CAFA Nations Cup while the second placed teams will face each other in the 3rd place match. The Blue Tigers need a win against Afghanistan, and hope that Tajikistan do not win against Iran in Thursday’s second game, in order to progress further.
A draw against Afghanistan may also be enough for India to finish in top-2 in Group B, if Iran either win or draw against Tajikistan. However, a defeat against Afghanistan will result in India’s elimination, as Tajikistan, in such a scenario, will have the better goal difference in the matches played among the three teams who would end up on three points each (Tajikistan, India and Afghanistan).
The Blue Tigers have faced Afghanistan 22 times in their history with India winning 13 times while their opponents have won just twice. 7 matches between the sides have been draws. The most recent meeting between the two sides, however, ended with the lower-ranked Afghanistan team stunning India 1-2 in a World Cup qualifying match.
India will take on Afghanistan in their final group stage match in the CAFA Nations Cup on Thursday. India are coming into this match with a win and a loss and will be gunning for another victory against the Afghans to stand a chance of qualifying for the next round, be it the final or the 3rd place match. Follow our live blog for updates.
Revenge for their shock loss last year will be on their minds when they face a tricky Afghanistan in their last group match of the CAFA Nations Cup here on Thursday.
India, then under Igor Stimac, had suffered an embarrassing 1-2 defeat against Afghanistan in Guwahati in a FIFA World Cup qualifying round match in March 2024, and the current team under Khalid Jamil would be eager to make amends of that loss.
