CAFA Nations Cup: India awaits playoff spot confirmation following stalemate against Afghanistan

Hisor [Tajikistan], September 4 (ANI): India played out a stalemate against Afghanistan in their last Group B match in the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 in Hisor, Tajikistan, on Thursday.

India's centre back, Anwar Ali, was named the Player of the Match. The Blue Tigers finish Group B with four points from three games, and now await the result of the match between Iran and Tajikistan to know their fate in the tournament. Already ruled out of finishing top of the group, India could finish second, which will ensure their progression to the third-place match on September 8, if Tajikistan do not win against Iran, as per an All India Football Federation (AIFF).

Afghanistan started the game on the front foot at the Hisor Central Stadium, though India created more clear-cut chances in the opening exchanges on the counter. A little after the quarter-hour mark, Ashique Kuruniyan managed to break through behind on the left and cut it back for Irfan Yadwad, who missed his shot.

India goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu was called into action in the 24th minute, when he made a smart save off a long shot by Ali Reza Panahi. Minutes later, Yadwad was played through into the Afghanistan box, but his eventual shot went wide of the far post.

Ashique managed to close down Afghanistan centre-back Mahboob Hanifi in the 34th minute, and stole the ball inside the box, and only had goalkeeper Faisal Ahmad Hamidi to beat, but the latter smothered the ball. The India winger received a booking for colliding with Hamidi in his efforts to get to the ball.

Jithin MS, who got his first start in India colours, tip-toed around his marker on the right and squared it to Ashique, minutes before the half-time interval, but the latter's shot from the edge of the area was blocked. Jithin had another chance in the first half injury time, when he got onto a clearance at the edge of the Afghanistan box and fired it on the half turn, sending the ball agonisingly over the woodwork.

India gained more control of the game after the change of ends, head coach Khalid Jamil opting to introduce Manvir Singh (Jr) and Vikram Partap Singh into the fray.

The first real chance of the half came around the hour mark, when Nikhil Prabhu, with the outside of his boot, threaded a through ball to a chasing Jithin, but it was just out of the latter's reach.

Jithin had another chance after Uvais' long throw found Jithin at the far post, but his shot went over in the 66th minute.

Afghanistan had arguably the best chance of the game in the 71st minute, when Hossein Zamani cut one back from the right to Yama Sherzad, whose shot was tipped onto the cross-bar by Sandhu.

The Lions of Khorasan began to gain more momentum towards the end of the match, but the Blue Tigers' defence held on to earn the draw. (ANI)

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