The Indian senior national team will square off against Afghanistan in their final group game of the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 on Thursday. The two sides have built a burgeoning football rivalry, and the Blue Tigers will be eager for revenge after dropping five out of a possible six points to Afghanistan in the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup 2027 Joint Qualifiers Round 2 last year.

The Blue Tigers currently sit second in Group B, with a win against Tajikistan (2-1) and a defeat to Iran (3-0). A positive result in their final game could see them finish second and qualify for the third-place playoff on 8th September. The Lions of Khorasan, meanwhile, are in a must-win situation to keep alive their chances of finishing second. They began with a 3-1 loss to Iran and followed it up with a 2-0 defeat to Tajikistan.

However, Afghanistan, who have a history of troubling India, could once again pose a threat to Khalid Jamil’s side. We take a deeper look at their footballing history, key players, and more.

History

The Afghanistan national football team falls under the Afghanistan Football Federation, which was established in 1922 and became part of FIFA in 1948.

The team’s first international match was against Iran in 1941. Soon after, Afghanistan sent their football team to the 1948 London Olympics, where they faced Luxembourg.

Despite early participation in events like the 1948 Olympic Games and the 1951 and 1954 Asian Games, where they were defeated in all their fixtures, Afghanistan’s football journey was significantly hampered by years of war. Before 2002, their last recorded international appearance came in the 1984 AFC Asian Cup qualification, where they lost 6–1 to Jordan on 20 September.

Afghanistan have featured in the SAFF Championship seven times, with their milestone achievement coming in 2013 when they won their first international title by defeating India in the final.

Currently ranked 161st in the world, Afghanistan achieved their highest-ever FIFA ranking of 122 in 2014. At present, the team is managed by Vincenzo Annese, who was appointed head coach in June 2025. The Italian brings a wealth of experience from his previous stints in Indian football, having managed Indian Super League (ISL) side NorthEast United FC during the 2022–23 season and guiding Gokulam Kerala FC to back-to-back I-League titles.

Form Guide: LLLLL

Afghanistan enter the game on a run of eight straight defeats and are winless in their last nine outings. Their most recent win came against India in March 2024, a 2-1 result in Guwahati that ended the Blue Tigers’ World Cup qualification hopes. Vincenzo Annese took charge in May 2025, but three losses in three matches under him show the struggles continue. Facing India again, Afghanistan will look to repeat that upset and derail their rivals’ progress.

Key Players

Omid Musawi

A product of European academies like FC Twente, Vitesse, and PEC Zwolle, Omid Musawi carved his path through Para Hills Knights SC in Australia before donning the Selangor FC jersey in late 2024. The 24-year-old made his senior Afghanistan debut in 2022 and has since earned nearly 20 caps, showcasing blazing speed to match.

A versatile forward with an eye for goal and a hunger to make something happen each time he gets the ball, Musawi could pose a threat to Rahul Bheke down the right channel. He is also the scorer of Afghanistan’s only goal so far in the CAFA Nations Cup 2025.

Zelfagar Nazary

A mainstay in Afghanistan’s midfield, Zelfagar "Zelfy" Nazary has been a consistent performer since making his debut in 2018. With over 20 international appearances, the defensive midfielder brings stability and composure to the side.

His only international goal came against India in a 1-1 draw back in 2019. At 30, Nazary combines experience from the Australian leagues with his current stint at Abu Muslim FC in Afghanistan.

Match Details

Fixture: Afghanistan vs India
Date: September 4, 2025
Time: 5:30 PM
Venue: Central Stadium, Hisor, Tajikistan
Live Streaming: FanCode