Preview: India aim for fresh start against Tajikistan in CAFA Nations Cup

The Indian men’s national team are ready to return to action on Friday as they take on Tajikistan in their opening fixture of the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 at the Central Stadium in Hisor, Tajikistan.

Under new head coach Khalid Jamil, the Blue Tigers are looking to usher in a fresh era for the national team. Drawn in Group B alongside IR Iran and Afghanistan, India will kick off their campaign with Friday’s clash, aiming to set the tone for the tournament.

See: India squad for the CAFA Nations Cup

Jamil’s first national camp began on August 15, giving him ten days to assess his squad. The CAFA Nations Cup 2025 will offer further competitive fixtures for the coach to fine-tune his team ahead of India’s two vital AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifying matches against Singapore in October.

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“We had a good preparation for the CAFA Nations Cup. Every player worked hard before coming here. It is a pleasure for us to participate in this tournament," Jamil said in the pre-match press conference.

The Blue Tigers enter this fixture on the back of two consecutive defeats and sit at the bottom of their AFC Asian Cup qualifying group. With a new coach at the helm, however, they will be looking to turn the page. The Blue Tigers aim to regain confidence, strengthen their defence, and find a winning rhythm as they seek to kickstart a fresh chapter with the CAFA Nations Cup 2025.

Tajikistan, meanwhile, are first in the group in the AFC Asian Cup, level on points with the Philippines. They come into the match unbeaten in their last three games, while India have struggled to find a win in the same period.

However, with a new coach in charge, India will be looking to start afresh and put past results behind them. Khalid Jamil has also introduced several new faces to the squad, young players eager to impress and secure their spots ahead of India’s next AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.

“We must think fresh, we must think positive. Yes, this is an away game against a good team, but we have to prepare accordingly and think only of one thing – a positive result. All the players must take responsibility. I feel that we are ready to accept this challenge,” said Jamil.