India marked their debut appearance in the Cafa Nations Cup with a third place and defeated Oman with a higher-ranked Oman 3-2 on penalties after the procedure that was 1-1 after the extra time, in the HISOR Central Stadium in Hisor, Tadjikistan, on Monday 8 September 2025.
After Udanta Singh Kumam’s 80th minute goal had canceled the 55th minute Opener from Jameel Al Yahmadi, it was all on the dreaded penalty shootout, because the 30 minutes extra time did not result. Oman defender Ali Al Busaidi was sent away in the 96th minute.
Lallianzuala Chhange, Rahul Bheke and Jithin MS scored for India in the penalties, while Anwar Ali’s spot kick was saved and Udanta missed. In the meantime, Thani Al Rushaidi, Muhsen Al Ghassani were the only two players who score their places for Oman. Harib al Saadi and Ahmed Al Kaabi missed the Hunne, and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, dramatically, produced a rescue of the last kick of the Jameel Al Yahmadi game.
It was one of those competitions where pure statistics could not paint the whole image. While Oman enjoyed the majority of property, both parties shared almost the same number of opportunities. India started on the front foot and launched counterattacks by Vikram Partap Singh and Lallianzuala Chhange on the wings.
The real chance of the Blue Tigers came in the 16th minute, when a Muhammed Uvais Lange Worp was on its way to Anwar by Nikhil Prabhu. The powerful header of the defender was saved by Oman -goalkeeper Ibrahim Al Mukhaini.
However, Oman began to grow in the game and Sandhu was soon called in the action in the 25th minute, when the shot of Issam Al Sabhi was sent away from outside the box by the Indian skipper holder.
Minutes later Nasser Al Rawahi was slipped between the Indian defending lines and Sandhu had to beat alone. His angular shot, however, rolled wide from the goal.
India had a good chance to take the lead just before half -time, when Chhange found Irfan Yadwad with low cuts, but the last shoved his shot that went wide.
Oman started on the front foot in the second half and scored within 10 minutes after the restart, when Abdullah Fawaz hit the ball from the box with the outside of his boot to Al Yahmadi, which tapped him on the distant pole.
An even match followed after the goal, because India was looking for a way back to the game. Blue Tiger’s head coach Khalid Jamil, with just over 10 minutes of regulation time, introduced Udanta and Suresh Singh Wangjam in the fight and the replacements immediately had an impact.
Rahul Bheke’s 80th -minute Worp was shocked by the head of the Danish Farooq, while Udanta rushed in to produce an instinctive header that bounced into the net. There was a relatively long wait after the goal, because the video assistant referee checked for breaches in the profession, but the goal was finally allowed.
Udanta created another chance in injury time and continued replacement Manvir Singh (JR) with an air poke, but it was treated by the Oman defense when the game went in extra time.
Al Busaidi received his marching orders after the start of the extra time, and India was now starting to control the man’s benefit. However, the chance was little in between in the extra 30 minutes, and the two parties soon had to stand in line for the dreaded penalties.
India shot in a 2-0 lead in the shootout after Al Saadi and Al Kaabi missed it, but Oman goalkeeper Al Mukhaini’s salvation from Anwar’s Spot-Kick, and Udanta’s Miss brought them back into the game. Sandhu stepped in when it mattered the most and produced a diving saving of Al Yahmadi’s efforts to win the Cafa Nations Cup 2025 Bronze Medal for India.
India: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (GK, C), Rahul Bheke, Anwar Ali, Nikhil Prabhu (Suresh Singh Wangjam 78 ‘), Lallianzuala Chhangte, Vikram Partap Singh (Jithin Ms 46’), MAHHODWARM (Manvir Singh JR 64 ‘), Hmingthanmawia Ralte, Muhammed Uvais (Roshan Singh Naorem 64’), Danish Farooq Bhat (Jeakson Singh Thownojam 116 ‘).
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