India vs Afghanistan Highlights: IND 0-0 AFG CAFA Nations Cup 2025- Match Ends Goalless

India vs Afghanistan Live Updates: IND 0-0 AFG (Full-Time)

India and Afghanistan ended goalless, keeping India's hopes of a third-place playoff alive. Khalid Jamil brought on fresh attackers late, while Afghanistan pushed for a winner but couldn't break through. Gurpreet was solid in goal, making key interventions, and India relied heavily on long balls. A draw means India must now wait on Iran's result against Tajikistan to confirm their fate.

India vs Afghanistan Live Updates: IND 0-0 AFG (57th Min)

In the 57th minute, Jithin MS almost broke through on goal after receiving a clever pass, but the ball carried too much weight, allowing the Afghan goalkeeper to rush out and clear it away.

A few minutes earlier, Afghanistan showed little urgency, calmly knocking the ball around among their defenders without making much effort to push forward, while India found themselves sitting deep in their own half.

India vs Afghanistan Live: IND 0-0 AFG (52nd Min)

Early in the second half, a long throw-in reached Mahesh, but he was brought down before making use of it, giving India a free-kick in a dangerous position. As the game resumed after the break, the Blue Tigers pushed forward with the intention of finding the opening goal that could strengthen their chances of qualifying for the CAFA Nations Cup third-place playoff.

India vs Afghanistan Live Score: IND 0-0 AFG (Half-Time)

At the halfway stage in Tajikistan, the scoreboard still read 0-0, with both India and Afghanistan creating chances but failing to convert them into a breakthrough.

In the 43rd minute, India nearly carved out an opportunity when Ashique latched onto a pass from the right just outside the Afghan penalty area. He tried his luck with a shot, but the Afghan defenders closed him down quickly, blocking the attempt and denying the Blue Tigers.

Moments later, in stoppage time at the end of the first half, Balal Arezou tried to make something happen for Afghanistan. Unable to find space inside the crowded Indian box, he opted for a long-range strike. The effort, however, lacked accuracy and flew wide, handing India a goal kick.

With both sides cancelling each other out, the teams went into the break without a goal separating them.

India vs Afghanistan Live Updates: IND 0-0 AFG (33rd Min)

Ashique managed to intercept the ball near the Afghan penalty area, but before he could take control, goalkeeper Hamidi rushed out to claim it. In the aftermath, Ashique's follow-through caught Hamidi on the head, earning the Indian winger a yellow card.

By the 32nd minute, Afghanistan tried to build through a throw-in from Kouhyar, but India quickly regained possession. Ashique attempted to surge forward, only to be dispossessed. Interestingly, the winger had now switched flanks, moving over from the left side to the right in search of more impact.

A few minutes earlier, in the 27th minute, Mahesh gave away a free-kick after a reckless challenge on Amid Arezou. Soon after, Ashique went down under pressure, appealing for a foul of his own. The referee used the stoppage to signal the first cooling break of the game before awarding the free-kick to Afghanistan.

The Afghans came closest to scoring in the 24th minute. Panahi found space just outside the penalty area and unleashed a powerful strike that forced Gurpreet Singh Sandhu into action. The Indian goalkeeper produced a sharp save, and on the rebound, Hanifi's effort went wide, resulting in a goal kick for India.

India vs Afghanistan, CAFA Nations Cup Live: IND 0-0 AFG (12th Min)

Irfan Yadwad attempted to break forward on the counter, but he was brought down in midfield, earning India a free-kick. The Blue Tigers restarted play quickly and soon forced a corner. From the resulting attack, Mahesh linked up with Anwar after Afghanistan failed to clear their lines, but Anwar's effort went wide, giving Afghanistan a goal-kick.

Trying to build from the back, Rahimi and Hanifi exchanged passes before releasing Musawi, but he lost possession under pressure. The move fizzled out, ending with India being awarded a goal-kick.

India vs Afghanistan Live Updates: IND 0-0 AFG (5th Min)

India got the game underway through Mahesh, who tried to build an attack from the back. The early attempt, however, did not trouble the Afghan goalkeeper, who gathered the ball with ease. Soon after, Hanifi pushed forward for Afghanistan, but India's pressing forced the visitors to retreat and recycle possession with sideways passes in their own half. A lofted cross was then floated in from the left, only for Rahul Bheke to clear it away. Moments later, Musawi combined with Balal on the left flank, making an underlapping run before unleashing a shot, which the Indian defence managed to block and clear from danger.

IND vs AFG Live Score, CAFA Nations Cup: Kick-Off! Match Underway!

Match is underway! India have their sights on qualifying for the final or 3rd place final!

IND vs AFG, CAFA Nations Cup 2025 Live: Afghanistan Preview

Afghanistan head into the clash on the back of a dismal streak, having suffered eight defeats in a row and gone winless in their last nine outings. Their most recent triumph ironically came at India's expense, a 2-1 upset in Guwahati in March 2024 that ended the Blue Tigers' World Cup qualifying hopes. Since then, fortunes have only declined. With Italian tactician Vincenzo Annese taking charge, the team has yet to turn things around, falling to three consecutive losses under his guidance.

IND vs AFG Live Score, CAFA Nations Cup 2025: Equation For India...

Group B is finely balanced heading into the final round. Iran sit comfortably at the top with six points and look well-placed to seal first place. However, if Tajikistan manage to upset Iran while India overcome Afghanistan, all three sides could finish level on points. In such a scenario, the rankings would be determined by the head-to-head results among those teams-starting with points, followed by goal difference and goals scored. Should the tie persist, overall group numbers, fair play records, or ultimately a draw of lots would come into play.

For India, the path is straightforward. Victory against Afghanistan would guarantee them at least a second-place finish, as long as Tajikistan do not topple Iran. A draw could also be enough if Iran hold their ground. But a defeat would eliminate the Blue Tigers completely, since Tajikistan would edge ahead on goal difference in a possible three-way tie.

IND vs AFG Live Score, CAFA Nations Cup 2025: Preview

Placed second in Group B, India began their campaign on a high by edging past co-hosts Tajikistan 2-1, but their momentum was halted by a heavy 0-3 defeat to title contenders Iran. Under head coach Khalid Jamil, the Blue Tigers must now secure a strong result in their final outing to keep their qualification hopes alive-whether that's for a spot in the final or at least the third-place playoff on September 8.

IND vs AFG Live Score, CAFA Nations Cup 2025: AFG XI

Afghanistan Playing XI: Hamidi, Nazary, Arezou, Hanifi, Balal, Skandari, Kouhyar, Sherzad, Rahimi, Reza Panahi, Musawi

IND vs AFG Live Score & Updates, CAFA Nations Cup 2025: IND XI

India Playing XI: Gurpreet, Bheke, Anwar, Prabhu, Suresh, Irfan, Mahesh, Hmingthan Mawia, Jithin, Uvais, Kuruniyan.

India vs Afghanistan Live Updates: Hello & Welcome!

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the CAFA Nations Cup 2025, Group match between India and Afghanistan!