NorthEast United FC assistant coach Naushad Moosa has been appointed head coach of the India U-23 men’s national team, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced on Tuesday.

Moosa will assume charge on June 1, ahead of two friendlies scheduled as part of the team’s preparations for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan.

Following a two-week training camp in Kolkata, the India U-23 squad will depart for Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on June 16. They will return on June 22 after playing two exposure matches.

The Blue Colts are set to face Tajikistan on June 18 and the Kyrgyz Republic on June 21 in Dushanbe.

AIFF Deputy Secretary General Mr. Satyanarayan M said, “In discussions with Manolo Márquez, we concluded that the federation needs to develop the U23 team with more emphasis. The best of these players are all training 10 months a year, and we are thankful to the clubs for the readiness with which they are available for national team duty.

“However, some of them are not getting much game-time, which is where we are looking to bridge the gap by playing exposure matches against other competitive international teams of the same age group, during the international windows,” he said.

“We want to thank NorthEast United FC for cooperating in releasing Naushad Moosa for the international windows.”

Moosa, who had coached the India U23s in two friendly matches against Malaysia last year, said after his appointment, “Representing my country, whether as a player or a coach, is one of the greatest honours in my career. Opportunity to lead the U-23 team for a second year is both exciting and a proud moment. Last year, we built a strong foundation, and the players showed real commitment. This year, we return with more experience, more hunger, and a few new faces who I believe will add great strength to the squad. I’m confident we can continue to grow and make the country proud.”

Later this year, the India U-23s will also participate in the AFC U-23 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers, the draw for which will be held on May 29, 2025, at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

“The June games are very important in our journey toward the Asian Games and the AFC U23 Asian Cup. This is an opportunity to assess player responses under pressure, improve our tactics, and build stronger bonds within the team. Our goal is to be fully prepared for these major tournaments by testing ourselves against strong opposition,” said Moosa.

NorthEast United FC team analyst Amogh Adige will also join Moosa in the national setup for the June friendlies.

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2024-2025