India’s wait for a victory against Afghanistan continued as the two sides played out a goalless draw in their final group-stage game of the India vs Afghanistan CAFA Nations Cup 2025. This was India’s third meeting with Afghanistan in the last three years, and once again, they failed to find a win.
However, despite the frustration of not scoring, the result was enough for Khalid Jamil’s men to book a second-place finish in their group with four points. Tajikistan also ended with four points after a thrilling 2-2 draw with Iran, but India progressed thanks to a superior head-to-head record, having beaten Tajikistan 2-0 earlier in the competition.
This means India will now play in the third-place playoff on September 8. For a side that many predicted would not even get past the group stage, this is already a promising achievement under new head coach Khalid Jamil, making the India vs Afghanistan CAFA Nations Cup 2025 a positive campaign so far.
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India Start Strong but Fail to Convert Chances
Before the India vs Afghanistan CAFA Nations Cup 2025, Jamil had kept his message simple: “We are prepared. It’s an important match, and we must think positive.” His team followed those words on the pitch, starting with high energy and pressing Afghanistan’s defense hard. Ashique Kuruniyan, Irfan Yadwad, and Mahesh Singh led the charge, forcing mistakes and keeping the Afghan backline under pressure.
Still, clear-cut chances were rare in the opening half as both teams maintained a compact and cautious shape. The best opportunity of the half fell to Yadwad. After Ashique cut the ball back into the box, Yadwad found himself in plenty of space. Unfortunately, he slipped at the crucial moment and failed to get a proper shot away with his left foot during the India vs Afghanistan CAFA Nations Cup 2025 clash.
Minutes later, another mix-up in Afghanistan’s defense saw the ball fall kindly for Yadwad again. With time and space, he tried to slot it home but sent his effort wide. The referee had blown for a foul anyway, sparing him some blushes.
Ashique also had a big chance when he won the ball high up the field and charged toward goal. But Afghan goalkeeper Faisal Hamidi reacted quickly, smothering the ball before Ashique could shoot in this India vs Afghanistan CAFA Nations Cup 2025 battle.
For Afghanistan, chances were limited to long-range strikes, all of which were comfortably dealt with by India’s ever-reliable goalkeeper, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. The first half ended with no goals, though India looked the better side in terms of intensity and pressing.
At half-time, Jamil decided to bring on fresh legs. Manvir Singh and Vikram Partap Singh entered the game, hoping to add more energy and sharpness in attack. Manvir, in particular, used his strength to trouble Afghan defenders, but his appeals for fouls were waved away by the referee.
India nearly grabbed the opener when Manvir slipped a clever pass through to Jithin, who was racing in on goal. But Hamidi was alert once again, sprinting off his line to block the danger in the India vs Afghanistan CAFA Nations Cup 2025.
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu Saves India
As the India vs Afghanistan CAFA Nations Cup 2025 moved into the second half, Afghanistan began to grow in confidence. Coach Vincenzo Annese made tactical changes, and his substitutes immediately made an impact. India, on the other hand, looked less dangerous going forward, with Jamil’s attacking switches not paying off.
The biggest moment of the game came in the 70th minute when Afghanistan nearly snatched the winner. Right winger Alireza Panahi showed great skill to hold off his marker, reached the byline, and whipped in a low cross. Yama Sherzad connected with a first-time strike that looked certain to beat Gurpreet.
But India’s number one had other ideas. Gurpreet stretched out an arm to make a stunning reflex save, pushing the ball onto the crossbar. It was the kind of moment that highlighted his reputation as one of Asia’s best goalkeepers, and it was the defining save of the India vs Afghanistan CAFA Nations Cup 2025.
Afghanistan sensed an opportunity and piled on the pressure in the closing stages. India’s defense had to stay focused as the Afghan forwards tried their luck from set-pieces and long shots. Yet, none could beat Gurpreet, who stood tall to deny them every time.
India, meanwhile, struggled to create meaningful chances late in the India vs Afghanistan CAFA Nations Cup 2025. Jamil’s substitutions couldn’t change the flow of the attack, and fatigue seemed to slow their pressing game. The final whistle confirmed a 0-0 result, with both teams sharing the spoils in the India vs Afghanistan CAFA Nations Cup 2025.
For India, the draw meant progress into the third-place playoff, a remarkable outcome for a team many thought would exit early. Under Khalid Jamil, this campaign already feels like a small success and a sign of steady progress. More importantly, the India vs Afghanistan CAFA Nations Cup 2025 gives India a chance to finish on the podium for the very first time.
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