Indian women’s football team will be back in action for the first time since their AFC Asian Cup campaign, that was abruptly cut short by the Covid-19 pandemic as Thomas Dennerby prepares the team for their further evolution.

India take on Egypt at the Prince Mohammed Stadium in Zarqa, Jordan in the first of the two friendlies the team will play on the tour.

The Blue Tigresses who are ranked 59th in the FIFA charts will start as the favourites against their African counterparts who are ranked 36 places below in the FIFA rankings.

India’s last official match was in October, after which the team were forced to withdraw from the 2022 AFC Asian Cup. Dennerby’s team were in decent form winning three out of their last five matches with narrow losses against Tunisia and Belarus.

The Blue Tigresses would be hoping to return to action with a win and continue their progress under the Swedish head coach.

Led by Ashalata Devi, the team was preparing in a camp in Goa ahead of the matches.

“It feels great to be back in national colours once again, after a short break. We’re all pumped up and ready to go,” Ashalata Devi told the AIFF website.

“We have had a good camp in Goa, and it has helped us assess ourselves before going for the two matches. Let’s hope for the best,” she added.

Head coach Thomas Dennerby feels that putting in good performance after a break will be important for the team.

“It promises to be a good game, against Egypt, and all the girls are feeling ready to return to the pitch once again,” said Dennerby.

“We have a lot of respect for all our opponents, but that does not change our approach to any game. We always want to put in a good performance and play to win,” he added.

Match Details and Telecast information

Fixture: India vs Egypt

Date: April 6, 2022

Time: 1:00 AM (IST)

Venue: Prince Mohammed Stadium in Zarqa, Jordan

Telecast: Jordan FA YouTube channel