Muhammad Suhail expressed his excitement at being selected for the Indian senior national team camp ahead of India’s crucial games in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. The Punjab FC winger first made waves in national colours earlier this month with his remarkable performances for the Indian U23 side at the AFC Asian Cup U23 qualifiers in Qatar.

Suhail found the net in each of the first two games for India U23, opening with a brilliant solo strike against Bahrain, followed by a towering header against Qatar that briefly kept the Blue Colts’ hopes alive, before a late goal from the visitors sealed their 2-1 defeat.

He continued to impress in their final match against Brunei, standing out as one of the brightest sparks of the tournament, even though the team narrowly missed out on qualification.

In a recent chat with RevSportz, Suhail looked back at his goal against the formidable Qatar side.

“I feel very happy because it’s been a long time since I scored a goal in a big game. Playing for India and scoring that goal, it means a lot to me,” he said.

The Indian senior team made a strong impression in their last outing at the CAFA Nations Cup, clinching the bronze medal behind Uzbekistan and Iran. Now, the Blue Tigers are turning their attention to the twin AFC Asian Cup qualifier clashes against Singapore.

Khalid Jamil has called up nine players from the U23 setup, including Suhail. The winger expressed his excitement at joining the Bengaluru camp and is determined to make his mark among the 30-man probables initially announced.

See: Probable India squad for AFC Asian Cup qualifiers vs Singapore

“I’m incredibly excited and grateful for this opportunity to join the senior national team camp. It’s a huge step forward in my career, and I’m looking forward to giving my best every single day and learning as much as I can,” said Suhail.

The 19-year-old is also excited to get his share of the pitch alongside veteran forward Sunil Chhetri, who has also been named in the national squad for the crucial games in October.

“It’s a dream come true to be on the same pitch as Sunil (Chhetri) bhai. He’s been an inspiration for every young footballer in India, including me, and I’m really looking forward to learning from him and gaining from his experience,” he shared.

Suhail has been with the Punjab FC setup for the past five years and credits the club for his development during this period. His breakthrough came after a stellar campaign in the Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL) in the 2023-24 season, where he won the Golden Ball and helped Punjab FC lift the national championship by defeating East Bengal FC in the final.

He was subsequently promoted to the senior team for the 2024–25 Indian Super League (ISL) season, where he quickly showcased his talent, impressing with his sharp instincts, intelligent movement, and ability to influence play with the ball.

“I have to thank Punjab FC a lot. I’ve been there for about five years now, and it feels like home to me, almost like a second home. I spent four years in the youth setup and one year with the senior team. I really have to thank everyone at the club; they’ve helped me a lot,” he said.

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