Indian U23 head coach Naushad Moosa has announced a 23-man squad for the upcoming AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers in Doha, Qatar.

The Blue Colts will begin their group-stage campaign against Bahrain on September 3, followed by matches against hosts Qatar on September 6 and Brunei Darussalam on September 9. The group winners, along with the four best second-placed teams across 11 groups, will secure a place in the AFC U23 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026.

“The key is to take it one match at a time. The first game (against Bahrain) will be very important because it will help us understand where we currently stand. Getting those three points will be crucial,” Moosa said to the-aiff.com.

Before flying to Doha, the Blue Colts played two closed-door friendlies against Iraq U23 in Kuala Lumpur, going down 1–2 and 1–3. Despite the results, head coach Naushad Moosa believes the matches have boosted the team’s confidence.

“Playing against Iraq was the best thing to happen for the team. They are one of the top sides, and the way we played – even though we lost – was quite encouraging. The important thing is that the boys showed character and have gained a lot of belief in their abilities,” said Moosa.

The squad:

Goalkeeper: Sahil, Mohd Arbaz, Dipesh Chauhan

Defenders: Bikash Yumnam, Pramveer, Muhammed Saheef Areesinte Purakkal, Harsh Arun Palande, Subham Bhattacharya, Ricky Meetei Haobam

Midfielders: Soham Naveen Varshneya, Lalrinliana Hnamte, Mohammed Aimen, Vibin Mohanan, Mohammed Sanan K, Chingangbam Shivaldo Singh, Ayush Dev Chhetri, Macarton Louis Nickson, Lalremtluanga Fanai, Vinith Venkatesh

Forwards: Parthib Sundar Gogoi, Muhammed Suhail, Sreekuttan MS, Sahil Harijan

Head Coach: Naushad Moosa

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