India aims to secure three points in the FIFA World Cup Qualifier against a depleted Afghanistan team.

by Jaswinder Kaur / 21-03-2024 / comments

India, holding three points and a single victory from two matches, currently sits in the second spot in Group A standings. Bolstered by the return of Jeakson Singh and Anwar Ali, the Indian football squad aims to advance its pursuit of a maiden entry into the third round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against a weakened Afghanistan side on March 21.

The inclusion of Jeakson and Anwar, who have recovered from prolonged injuries, boosts India's confidence against their lower-ranked opponents. However, midfielder Sahal Abdul Samad's absence due to a hamstring injury is a setback.

With an away triumph over Kuwait in their first match and a loss to Qatar in the second, India stands in a favorable position to progress further in the qualification cycle. Victories in both the upcoming away and home fixtures against Afghanistan could secure nine points for India. This, combined with Qatar's anticipated wins in their matches against Kuwait, presents India with an opportunity to climb to second place in the standings.

India and Afghanistan have a longstanding rivalry dating back to their first encounter in 1949. Despite Afghanistan's departure from SAFF in 2016, this rivalry persists across various tournaments. Although India has often held the upper hand, Afghanistan has remained a challenging opponent.

Sunil Chhetri, a key player for India, boasts an impressive record against Afghanistan with four goals in eight matches. His return, along with Jeakson and Anwar, bolsters India's lineup.

However, Afghanistan faces internal issues with several players boycotting matches due to disputes with the Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF), alleging corruption and match-fixing. Despite these challenges, players like Zohib Islam Amiri, Omid Musawi, and Balal Arezou pose a threat to India.

In summary, India seeks to capitalize on its strengths and the weakened state of Afghanistan to secure crucial points in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.