2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers: India vs Afghanistan - watch live
Sunil Chhetri’s Indian football team needs to avoid a defeat against Afghanistan to get direct entry in the third round of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. Watch live in India!
The Indian football team faces Afghanistan in its final Group E match of the joint 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2023 AFC Asian Cup second round qualifiers at Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday.
The match kicks off at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium from 7:30 PM IST. Indian football fans can watch India vs Afghanistan joint 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2023 AFC Asian Cup fixture on live streaming and live on TV.
Igor Stimac’s India finally broke their 11-match winless run with a 2-0 win over Bangladesh in their last outing, courtesy captain Sunil Chhetri’s brace. The win took India up to third in the Group E table with six points from seven matches.
The Afghanistan football team, meanwhile, lost its last game against Oman 2-1 and is placed fourth with five points.
The final group game will bear immense significance for both sides as the third-placed team will secure a direct entry into the third round of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. Both India and Afghanistan are, however, out of the race for a World Cup spot.
With just one point separating them, India need only a draw to keep hold of their third position and enter the third round of Asian qualifiers directly. A loss, meanwhile, will see them slip down to fourth, adding the extra burden of navigating the playoff round to stay in contention.
Afghanistan, consequently, will be keen to win the match if they are to leapfrog India into that coveted third spot.
India will be boosted by the return of right-back Rahul Bheke, who missed the Bangladesh win due to suspension, but midfielder Anirudh Thapa (recovering from COVID-19) is still not available for selection.
The link-up between striker Sunil Chhetri and in-form Brandon Fernandes will be key to India’s fortunes.
The two Indian attackers, though, will be up against a familiar foe on Tuesday. Afghanistan defender Masih Saighani has played in the Indian Super League (ISL) for Chennaiyin FC in the past and will be familiar with both Brandon and Chhetri’s playing styles.
Saighani is also known for his aerial prowess from set-pieces, which will keep Indian goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu on his toes.
Though India, ranked 105th in FIFA rankings, is placed higher than the 149th ranked Afghanistan, Chhetri and Co. cannot afford to take the Anoush Dastgir-coached side lightly.
The last time the two teams met in their first leg of the qualifiers, India were lucky to escape with a point. Afghanistan took the lead through Zelfy Nazary at the cusp of half-time but Seiminlen Doungel struck in stoppage time to salvage a draw.
Where to watch India vs Afghanistan FIFA World Cup and AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers live in India?
The India vs Afghanistan 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers match will be telecast live on the Star Sports 2, Star Sports 2 HD and Star Sports 3 TV channels in India. The match starts at 7:30 PM IST on Tuesday.
Live streaming of India vs Afghanistan will be available on Disney+ Hotstar and Jio TV.
Indian football squad for 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers
Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Amrinder Singh, Dheeraj Singh
Defenders: Pritam Kotal, Narender Gehlot, Rahul Bheke, Chinglensana Singh, Sandesh Jhingan, Adil Khan, Akash Mishra, Subhashish Bose
Midfielders: Udanta Singh, Brandon Fernandes, Liston Colaco, Rowllin Borges, Glan Martins, Pronoy Halder, Suresh Singh, Lalengmawia, Sahal Abdul Samad, Yasir Md, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Bipin Singh, Ashique Kuruniyan
Forwards: Manvir Singh, Sunil Chhetri, Ishan Pandita