"We must think fresh, positive": Indian coach Jamil ahead of Tajikistan clash in CAFA Nations Cup

New Delhi [India], August 28 (ANI): The elder Indian men's nationalist squad volition statesman their first-ever CAFA Nations Cup 2025 run against hosts Tajikistan astatine the Hisor Central Stadium successful Hisor, Tajikistan connected August 29.

India has been placed successful Group B, where, aft facing the hosts, they volition play Iran (September 1) and Afghanistan (September 4). Group A, meanwhile, consists of hosts Uzbekistan, Kyrgyz Republic, Turkmenistan, and Oman. The apical teams from each radical volition play each different successful the final, portion the 2 second-placed teams volition look disconnected successful the third-place match, some to beryllium played connected September 8.

India caput manager Khalid Jamil sounded satisfied with his side's 10-day preparatory campy successful Bengaluru, preceding the tournament. 'We had a bully mentation for the CAFA Nations Cup. Every subordinate worked hard earlier coming here. It is simply a pleasance for america to enactment successful this tournament,' helium said arsenic quoted by an AIFF property release.

India and Tajikistan person played each different 5 times successful history, with the Central Asian state winning three. The Blue Tigers' lone triumph against Tajikistan came successful the AFC Challenge Cup 2008 final, wherever India defeated the Persian Lions 4-1.

That effect was 18 years ago, and Tajikistan (106th successful the FIFA Rankings) are a antithetic broadside now. Jamil is afloat alert of the threats that the opponents airs to India (133rd successful the FIFA Rankings), but is much intent connected the Blue Tigers playing their ain game.

'Yes, we cognize astir them (Tajikistan). They are a beardown broadside and person done good recently. But we indispensable absorption connected our ain crippled and beryllium mentally prepared,' said Jamil. 'It is important for america to play arsenic a portion and support improving each match. The process volition instrumentality time. We privation to absorption connected some the juniors and the seniors to physique a beardown portion for the aboriginal matches,' helium added.

The India caput manager stressed the value of spreading positivity successful the team. 'We indispensable deliberation fresh, we indispensable deliberation positive. Yes, this is an distant crippled against a beardown team, but we indispensable hole accordingly and absorption solely connected 1 thing: a affirmative result. All the players indispensable instrumentality responsibility. I consciousness that we are acceptable to judge this challenge.

India goalkpeeper Hrithik Tiwari, astatine the pre-match property conference, said, 'We person trained hard implicit the past fewer weeks, and our campy successful Bengaluru gave america an aggravated 10 days to get acceptable for the CAFA Nations Cup. I americium definite everyone is excited to play this tourney and acceptable to springiness their best.' (ANI)