India 0-0 Afghanistan Highlights, CAFA Nations Cup 2025: Blue Tigers Held To Goalless Draw At Hisor

Good evening, football fans! Today’s big match on offer – the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 fixture between India and Afghanistan. It’s a must-win game for India, as a defeat will send them home early from the tournament. Stay tuned for pre-match updates and lineups as they are released ahead of kick-off at 5:30 PM IST.

Today's match sees India's Khalid Jamil engage in a battle of tactics against Afghanistan's head coach Vincenzo Annese. However, these two have a link before today's fixture as well, having both been in charge of Indian Super League (ISL) side NorthEast United FC (NEUFC).

Jamil joined NEUFC back in the 2019-20 season, becoming the first Indian head coach in ISL history. Annese joined a bit later, in December 2022, after the sacking of Marco Balbul. However, he departed to take charge of the Nepal national team in March 2023.

Previously, Annese spent two years in charge of I-League side Gokulam FC. Safe to say, he is more than well-versed with Indian football.

While club football in India is still embroilled in a messy situation between the AIFF and FSDL, the national team has performed brightly at all age levels in men's and women's football. Yesterday, the India U23 side got off to a winning start against Bahrain in the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers. Can the senior side repeat the trick today?

India: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (gk), Rahul Bheke (c), Anwar Ali, Nikhil Prabhu, Suresh Singh, Irfan Yadwad, Naorem Mahesh Singh, Valpuia, Jithin MS, Muhammed Uvais, Ashique Kuruniyan

Afghanistan: Faisal Hamidi (gk), Zelfy Nazary (c), Amid Arezou, Mahboob Hanifi, Balal Arezou, Taufee Skandari, Qamaruddin Kouhyar, Yama Sherzad, Mohammad Naeem Rahimi, Ali Panahi, Omid Musawi

India's last win against Afghanistan came in a AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers in 2022 in Kolkata, where the hosts won 2-1. Sunil Chhetri and Sahal Abdul Samad scored late to seal the win for India.

The match was a heated one, with both sets of players engaging in a post-match brawl on the pitch. There was tension in the crowd as well.

The pre-match formalities are done, and referee Eldos Murzabekov blows his whistle. India get us underway, attacking to the right. An early shot from Suresh within 13 seconds, but it flies wide. A positive start from the Blue Tigers.

Afghanistan have more of the ball in the early stages of the game, but they are playing with a high-line that India will look to exploit, especially with the pace up front. As of now, the ball is mostly around the half-way line.

A good ball into the box from Mahesh almost found one of the Indian defenders. The ball bounces back to the winger, who drops his shoulder to beat the marker before cutting it back inside. However, the move fizzles out as Anwar has a wild attempt at goal that goes wide.

India are enjoying much more of the ball now, and Ashique was freed down the left flank. With a yard of space ahead of him, he cut it back into the box, and Irfan was there in perfect place to get a shot at goal. However, he got his legs tangled up and the chances goes begging.

India's attacks are mostly coming down the left flank, with Valpuia not getting much opportunities to push forward. However, India are pretty wasteful with posession in Afghanistan's third of the pitch. The pressure is immense, and the first goal will be vital.

Out of nowhere, Afghanistan almost went ahead. Ali Panahi cut inside, wrong footing Suresh, and then shot with his right. It was a bullet strike that had Gurpreet stretching to keep it out. Nothing materialises from the resulting corner. Warning signs for India...

The ball bounces past the Afghan defenders and somehow finds Irfan free up front. The forward shoots from inside the box, trying to find the far corner, but it goes wide. The offside flag goes up, saving the Indian striker's blushes. Irrespective of that, Irfan HAD to hit the target from there.

Ashique has come on the right flank now, with Jithin moving on to the left. Ashique almost punished Afghanistan after a heavy touch from a defender, but it's cleared.

Another poor touch from the centre-back after a goal-kick, and Ashique wins the ball gets a chance in the box, but clatters with Hamidi, who goes down in pain. The referee immediately blows for a foul and brandishes a yellow card.

Jumping for the ball, Anwar clatters into the back of Sherzad, and the Afghan goes down clutching his shoulder. It should have been called a foul, but the referee does not see it. The match has become a bit cagey now.

One of the better chances for India as Ashique made his way towards the Afghan penalty area and had a shot from just outside the box. However, it clattered against Arezoo. A brave block, as the shot would have been goalbound.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan make a substitution as Rahimi comes off for Rahmat Akbari.

Musawi goes down dramatically on the edge of the box, but the refere asks him to get up on his feet. Irfan earns a yellow card for clashing into Hanifi's back.

Meanwhile, the fourth offiical indicates a minimum of five added minutes.

Jithin had a very good effort from outside the box. A good first touch and then on the half-turn, the winger shoots, but it flies just over the bar. A moment of brilliance that Khalid Jamil would be asking for.

Not much comes of the match in the first half, and the referee blows his whistle for half-time. A lack of chances and urgency from both sides, that the head coaches will look to rectify in the break.

Afghanistan gets the ball rolling in the second half. India make a double change, as Vikram Partap Singh and Manvir Singh comes on, replacing Irfan and Ashique Kuruniyan.

The match has grown a bit physical as Afghanistan are pushing hard in search of a goal. The Indian defenders need to regroup quickly to counter their opponents' physicality.

India are struggling to hold on to the bold for long, and Afghanistan look dangerous on the counter. Mahesh is still the heartbeat of the Indian attack, but the Afghan midfielders have figured that out, giving him no space in the middle of the park.

India are struggling to create anything from open play, and are relying on the long throws. One such ball is floated into the box, and Jithin has a shot from inside the box, but it is high and wide over the bar.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan make a double change. Habibullah Hotak comes on for his national team debut, and along comes Hossein Zamani. Balal Arezou and Musawi come off.

A short corner is played by Afghanistan. Zamani did very well to cut the ball into the box, and Sherzad was allowed to turn and shoot first time by Suresh. Gurpreet showed instinct to get a hand on the shot, but it crashes against the woodwork and comes back into play.

Afghanistan attempt a set-piece routine, but Gurpreet is alert and gathers it comfortably. Khalid responds with a triple substitution, introducing Danish Farooq, Udanta Singh, and Lallianzuala Chhangte to inject fresh energy.

The game finished in a stalemate, lacking goals despite moments when both sides came close. Afghanistan bowed out of the tournament with the draw, while India kept their hopes alive, remaining in contention for the third-place match.