India started the campaign Cafa Nations Cup from 2025 by winning 2-1 victories over the hosts of Tajikistan in Dushanbe on Friday and ended the eighteen-year waiting for victory against the Central Asian side. The blue tigers led by the new head coach Khalid Jamil soon hit Anwar Ali and Sandesh Jhingan before survived the waves of pressure in the second half, while goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu created a heroic performance between the sticks.
Visitors began with intensity clearly, disturbing Tajikistan. In the 5th minute Anwar Ali lifted the highest to meet with a long throw from the cake and forced a defensive mistake that ended with the ball in the network. Just eight minutes later, India doubled. Anwar turned the provider and whipped in a dangerous corner that led to blocking the header of Rahul Bheke, only to kill Jhingan home.
What the beginning of the Khalid Jamil era #Tjkind #CafanationSCUP2025 #Indiianfootballl pic.twitter.com/wizt36meb9– Fancode (@fancode) 29. August 2025
Tajikistan, rattling, but durable, emerged back when Samav was cleverly combined with Panshanbe and Boboeev before ending around the gurpreet in the 23rd minute. The hosts pushed forward in search of parity, but the Indian rear line kept firmly to enter the half-life with a slim leading 2-1.
The other half was about the attack of Tajikistan against the defense of India. The hosts who yelled on the wrapped home crowd released a breath of shots, sets and crosses. Gurpreet Sandhu, however, stood high and made essential savings from Jalilov, Safarov and Shukurov. Meanwhile, India tried to face Vikram Partap Singh and Irfan Yadwad, but tried to find a finishing touch.
The defining moment came in the 72th minute when Tajikistan was a sentence after a soft foul on Soirov. With the pressure assembly, Soirov intensified to save him Gurpreet’s sharp on his right and trigger wild celebrations among Indian players. Jamil, however, urged calm from the side places when his party continued to suck tireless pressure. The Indian task became harder when Irfan raised serious injuries late in the game and had to be stretched.
Despite the tense final minute and the time header of Hanonov, which flew closely wide, India held the famous victory. It was their first victory over Tajikistan by Hattrik Sunil CHETRI in the AFC Challenge Cup in 2008 and only their second of the seven meetings. The result not only gave Jamil a dream at the beginning of his term of office, but also increased Indian chances of progress from Group B, where September 1 and Afghanistan 4 are facing Irán.
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Published:
Amar Pancker
Published on:
29. August 2025
