India’s hopes of advancing at the CAFA Nations Cup were left hanging by a thread after being held to a frustrating goalless draw by Afghanistan in Hisor on Thursday.
The Blue Tigers carved out a flurry of chances in the opening half but squandered each opportunity, leaving them to rue missed finishes that could have settled the contest early. Afghanistan, though already out of contention, held firm and grew in confidence as the game wore on, threatening India’s defence with near misses and forcing Gurpreet Singh Sandhu into a critical second-half save.
The stalemate, however, does not entirely close the door on India’s campaign. With three points from three matches, Khalid Jamil’s men remain in contention for the third-fourth place playoff. Their fate now rests on the outcome of the evening fixture, where Iran, overwhelming favourites, face co-hosts Tajikistan.
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Should Iran prevail, India’s superior head-to-head record over Tajikistan will guarantee them a spot in the playoff. But if Tajikistan manage a draw, they will advance with four points, leaving India out on goal difference.
Afghanistan, already eliminated, played with freedom and came close to repeating their triumph from March 2024, when they stunned India in the second round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. This time, however, neither side found a breakthrough in what turned into a tense stalemate.
The result leaves India’s destiny no longer in their own hands, with fans left anxiously awaiting Iran’s clash against the hosts to know whether the campaign continues or concludes.
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