Khalid Jamil’s first game as India head coach began their 2025 CAFA Nations Cup campaign with a 2-1 win over tournament hosts Tajikistan at the Hisor Central Stadium on Friday, August 29. Early goals from Anwar Ali and Sandesh Jhingan gave the Blue Tigers the lead, which they ended up defending till the final whistle.

Despite the first-half lead, the hosts ended up putting the pressure on the Indian team as the game went down to the final seconds. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu stood tall with a string of saves, including a crucial penalty stop in the 72nd minute to preserve India’s lead. Despite late appeals for a spot kick from Irfan Yadwad, India held on to secure three points in their group opener, marking a strong start to a new era under Jamil.

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