Tag: india football team ndtv sports

[ad_1] India is approaching the World Cup qualifying match against Afghanistan with a clear mindset and the focus is to secure a spot in the third phase of the qualifiers for the first time, said football coach Igor Stimac on Thursday. India will play back-to-back games against Afghanistan as part of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2027 AFC Asian Cup joint qualifiers round 2, the first of which will take place in Abha, Saudi Arabia on March 21. India will then play their home game against Afghanistan in Guwahati on March 26."We will go there to try and win the game. We are not looking at any massive calculations right now. Once we all get there, we will start talking about how to win the game from the very first second," Stimac said in an AIFF release.In November last year, India had began t...

[ad_1] Grappling with injuries to key midfielders, India on Saturday named a 26-member squad for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup with Sahal Abdul Samad making the cut but Jeakson Singh and Glan Martins missing out due to issues related to fitness. Top defensive midfielder Jeakson, who underwent shoulder injury in November, was always doubtful and so was Mohun Bagan's Martins, who got injured recently. Both of them were among the 50 probables. However, Samad, who had also picked up an injury early this month, managed to get into the side that will be spearheaded by seasoned striker Sunil Chhetri.The Indian senior men's team head coach Igor Stimac announced the squad.The Blue Tigers are due to arrive in Doha later on Saturday, ahead of marking their fifth appearance in the Asian Cup.India will ...

[ad_1] File photo of the AIFF logo© X (formerly Twitter)The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Thursday revealed that several I-League players were recently approached for "match manipulation" and promised to investigate the matter. AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey did not elaborate on how they received the information, which players were approached and who contacted them but insisted that the federation is committed to save the integrity of the game. "We have received information of multiple approaches to our players. We will thoroughly examine the incidents, investigate, and take all necessary action," Chaubey said in a statement. "We are committed to protecting our players and our beautiful game and will not tolerate any attempts of this nature to put the players and the game at ris...

[ad_1] Indian football team lost 2-4 to Malaysia in Merdeka Cup.© TwitterIndia lost 2-4 to hosts Malaysia in the opening match, a virtual semifinal to bow out of the Merdeka Cup in Kuala Lumpur on Friday. Malaysia took the lead as early as in the seventh minute through Dion Cools before Naorem Mahesh Singh equalised for India with a beautiful volley in the 13 minute. A silly challenge from Nikhil Poojary on Arif Amin inside the Indian box gifted Malaysia a penalty and Amin made no mistake in finding the net from the spot in the 20th minute. To make matters worse for India, Faisal Halim increased the score-line 3-1 in Malaysia's favour four minutes from half time.India captain Sunil Chhetri pulled a goal back in the 52nd minute to reduce the margin to 2-3.Five minutes later, a huge contro...

[ad_1] India qualified for the SAFF U19 Championship semifinals with a 2-1 victory over Bhutan at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu on Monday. Both the teams were locked 1-1 at half-time. Jigme Namgyel gave Bhutan the lead in the 20th minute but India bounced back through goals from Gwgwmsar Goyary and Ricky Meetei. India went into the Group B match with an upperhand, having defeated Bangladesh 3-0. To add to that, Bhutan's 4-3 victory against Bangladesh meant that India needed only a draw to secure the top spot in the group and subsequently, a place in the semifinals.In the semifinal, India will cross swords with the hosts Nepal on Wednesday.A tight contest ensued in the middle of the park as the two sides looked to gain control of the game.India looked to overload the wings as Raja Ha...

[ad_1] The AIFF on Sunday announced India's U-16 squad comprising 23 members for the upcoming SAFF Championship to be played next month. India's men's U-16 head coach Ishfaq Ahmed has named Rohit, Aheibam Suraj Singh and Arush Hari as goalkeepers for the tournament to be held in Thimpu, Bhutan, from September 1-10. Ngariyambam Abhijit, Mohammed Kaif, Yaipharemba Chingakham, Usham Thoungamba, Vumlenlal Hangshing, Chingtham Renin Singh and Karish Soram will be India's defenders. In the midfield, Newton Singh, Kangujam Yoihenba Meitei, Levis Zangminlun, Bobby Singh, Abdul Salha, Ngamgouhou Mate, Vishal Yadav, Manbhakupar Malngiang and Md Arbash have been named.India's forward line will be powered by Ningthoukhongjam Rishi Singh, Ahongshangbam Samson, Lairenjam Bharat and Airborlang Kharthan...

[ad_1] Former captain and star striker Bala Devi returned to the Indian women's football team after a hiatus of four years as the 22-member national squad for the upcoming Asian Games 2023 was announced in New Delhi on Friday. Bala Devi last played for India in the South Asian Games in Kathmandu in 2019. The inclusion of Bala Devi will add a definite edge to this Indian team while entering the Asian Games 2023 to be played in Hangzhou, China. Bala Devi carries with her rich experience of playing at the international level for India since 2005.The elite striker has so far netted 36 goals for India from just 46 matches.Bala Devi's scoring prowess had earned her an 18-month contract with Scottish Women's Premier League club Rangers in 2020.She played 9 matches for Rangers and scored 2 goals...

[ad_1] A 4-0 hammering of Pakistan giving them the perfect start, India will have a wonderful opportunity to move closer to the semifinals of the SAFF Championship when they face Nepal in Bengaluru on Saturday. On paper, the hosts hold all the aces, evidenced by an overwhelming 16-2 overall head-to-head record in 23 matches played between them, a sequence that started in the 1985 SAF Games. The last meeting between the two sides came during the 2021 SAFF Championship when India defeated Nepal 3-0.As far as the SAFF tournament is concerned, India also have a commanding 6-2 head-to-head record from nine matches. Even the recent form of both the teams indicate an Indian domination.India entered the SAFF Championship on the back of their 2-0 triumph over Lebanon in the Intercontinental Cup f...