The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Monday re-appointed Swede Thomas Dennerby as the national women's team head coach ahead of the AFC Olympic Qualifiers Round 2, even though its technical committee had recommended Gokulam Kerala's Anthony Andrews.
On July 13, the technical committee of the AIFF under the legendary IM Vijayan as the chairman, had recommended Andrews, who guided Gokulam Kerala FC to back-to-back Indian Women's League (IWL) titles in the last two seasons, to succeed Dennerby whose earlier contract had ended in March.
But, it is learnt that many players in the national team wanted Thomas Dennerby's continuation and had requested for the same to the AIFF.
Thomas Dennerby was in charge of the national team in the first round of Olympic qualifiers, against Kyrgyzstan on April 4 and 7 โ which India won โ before leaving.
He is now at the helm again for the second round of the Olympic qualifiers in October.
Andrews will also remain in the set-up as he was named as the coach, while Maymol Rocky will be the assistant coach and Ronibala Chanu the goalkeeping coach.
A source said it is not necessary for the AIFF to accept the recommendation of the technical committee.
The 27-year-old Andrews is among the youngest coaches in India to have an AFC 'A' License. Under his guidance Gokulam Kerala won the IWL titles in 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.
โ Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) July 24, 2023
"The committee, after having a long discussion on appointing the head coach of the senior women's national team, decided to recommend Anthony Andrews for the coveted post," the AIFF had said in a release.
The current national team has many players from Gokulam like captain Ashalata Devi, Grace Dangmei, Ranjana Chanu, Indumathi Kathiresan and Sandhiya Ranganathan.
The senior national women's team will be playing the AFC Olympic Qualifiers Round 2 from October 26 to November 1, where it has been clubbed with Japan, Vietnam and Uzbekistan.
India are scheduled to play Japan on October 26, Vietnam on October 29 and Uzbekistan on November 1.
The top two teams from each group will qualify for the third round from where the first two teams will make the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Other technical committee members are Pinky Bompal Magar, Climax Lawrence, Arun Malhotra, Harjinder Singh and Eugeneson Lyngdoh.
NorthEast United FC vs Jamshedpur FC ISL 2024-25 Knockout 2 Highlights | Jamshedpur seals a breathtaking win in Shillong; books their place in the semis | FT NEUFC 0-2 JFC
Catch the highlights of the NorthEast United FC vs Jamshedpur FC Knockout 2 match in ISL 2024-25 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Shillong.
Hello and welcome to another live coverage of Indian football as we continue bringing you all the live updates of Indian Super League following the conclusion of the March international window.
The ISL 2024-25 Playoffs have marked its beginning on March 29, with an emphatic 5-0 victory by Bengaluru FC over Mumbai City FC in the first knockout match.
Tonight, we will bring you all the live updates, news, and live scores of the highly intense Knockout 2 encounter between NorthEast United FC and Jamshedpur FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong.
NorthEast and Jamshedpur both finished the league stage with 38 points from 24 games. The Highlanders' position was bettered by a higher goal difference (17) than Jamshedpur (-6), leading them to a fourth-place finish. The Red Miners finished in fifth position.
As the pathway to the semi-finals lures both teams, offering a potential roller-coaster ride for us, sit back and enjoy the match asSportz Point provides you with all the real-time updates, team news, live scores, and match commentary tonight.
This is Soumit Bhattacharya, who will bring you all the updates of the match from the web desk.
Moreover, you can follow us on Twitter for all the updates. Join our Telegram and WhatsApp channelsto get all the news and scores.
LIVE Updates
Mar 30, 2025, 4:50 PM
Thank you and stay tuned!
ISL 2024-25 Knockout round comes to an end!
Hope you enjoyed our LIVE coverage. We will be back with more LIVE coverages of the Indian Super League 2024-25 semi-finals!
90'+12' | HERE GOES THE FULL-TIME WHISTLE! | FT NEUFC 0-2 JFC
Mar 30, 2025, 4:00 PM
90'+9' | JAMSHEDPUR SEALS IT WITH JAVI'S GOAL!!!! | NEUFC 0-2 JFC
ABSOLUTE MADNESS IN SHILLONG!
Ritwik Das dribbled and dodged past the Northeast defenders before passing to Javi inside the six-yard box. The Red Miners' captain literally toyed with Gurmeet before slotting it home with a swift strike!
Jamshedpur has sealed their place in the semi-finals!
The NorthEast players are down on the ground with their hearts broken in the most hurtful way possible!
Mar 30, 2025, 3:56 PM
90'+6' | Ajaraie hits the woodwork!
Unbelievable!
Alaaeddine Ajaraie's pinpoint header from the edge of the six-yard box somehow hit the woodwork! Ajaraie failed to keep the rebound on target as well!
Mar 30, 2025, 3:54 PM
90'+5' | Gogoi goes over the bar!
Parthib Gogoi's strike from the just the edge of the penalty area went over the crossbar!
Mar 30, 2025, 3:52 PM
90'+3' | Another chance goes begging
Another cross is delivered into the box, and this time Eze headed it away!
Mar 30, 2025, 3:50 PM
90'+1' | How can Guillermo miss this!
Alaaeddine flicked the ball behind into the box as Guillermo had an open goal in front of him, but a slight touch from Barla kept the ball off the target.
This was the easiest chance the hosts had after a long time!
Mar 30, 2025, 3:49 PM
90' | 8 minutes of stoppage time added on!
Mar 30, 2025, 3:48 PM
90' | Subsitution for NorthEast United
In: Parthib Gogoi
Out: Jithin MS
Mar 30, 2025, 3:48 PM
88' | Straight red for Mobashir!
Mobashir Rahman is shown a straight red card for deliberately kicking Macarton in a tussle!
Jamshedpur are down to ten men!
Mar 30, 2025, 3:47 PM
87' | What a madness!
There were back-to-back chances for NorthEast, but no, the Jamshedpur defence seems to have a no-entry board hanging in front of them.
Compact and robust defending from the Red Miners' defence!
Mar 30, 2025, 3:44 PM
85' | Yellow for Albino
Albino Gomes is shown a yellow for wasting time.
Mar 30, 2025, 3:44 PM
84' | Off target for Thoi
Thoi Singh half-volleyed a strike from close to the left but skied his strike over the bar.
Mar 30, 2025, 3:42 PM
83' | Chance for Jamshedpur
Siverio had an attempt on target following the cross from Murray, but he failed to find the precision from inside the box!
Mar 30, 2025, 3:41 PM
82' | Substitution for NorthEast United
In: Thoi Singh
Out: Redeem Tlang
Mar 30, 2025, 3:41 PM
82' | Substitution for Jamshedpur FC
In: Ritwik Das
Out: Mohammed Sanan
Mar 30, 2025, 3:39 PM
81' | Substitution for Jamshedpur FC
In: Javier Siverio
Out: Rei Tachikawa
Mar 30, 2025, 3:39 PM
80' | It's heating up in Shillong!
The crowd is roaring as Tachikawa and Sanan are down!
Both of them are receiving medical attention as the NorthEast players are very animated!
Mar 30, 2025, 3:37 PM
78' | Effort from Javi
Javi Hernandez lodged an ambitious long-ranger strike from the middle of the park, but the ball soared wide off the second post.
Mar 30, 2025, 3:36 PM
76' | Final quarter to play
We are back after the second drinks break of the game. The final fifteen minutes are left to play.
Can NorthEast pull off a miracle? Or is Jamshedpur going to stamp a well-dominant win?
Mar 30, 2025, 3:34 PM
74' | Pronay is too good
Pronay Halder executed two consecutive clearances to deny the NorthEast attackers.
Absolutely top-notch performance from him so far tonight!
Mar 30, 2025, 3:32 PM
71' | Substitution for NorthEast United
In: Guillermo Hierro
Out: Nestor Albiach
Mar 30, 2025, 3:29 PM
70' | Another off target strike from Ajaraie
Alaaeddine Ajaraie sprinted into the middle, in front of the box, but failed to keep his powerful strike on target.
Mar 30, 2025, 3:28 PM
68' | Block from Eze
Nestor won the battle against Sanan and flashed a strike from a very tight angle on the right, as Eze stayed alert in making a perfect block.
Mar 30, 2025, 3:23 PM
63' | Appeal from NorthEast
The Highlanders appealed for the handball against Ashutosh Mehta, but the referee did not give any attention.
Mar 30, 2025, 3:19 PM
60' | Chance for NorthEast
Tlang perfectly soared his free-kick past the one-man wall Sanan, but Macarton's header drifted way over the target.
Mar 30, 2025, 3:16 PM
57' | Off target for Ajaraie
Alaaeddine Ajaraie dribbled past a defender before slicing a strike that again sailed over the crossbar.
Not a familiar sight from the Moroccan magician, who has suffered a frustrating night so far.
Mar 30, 2025, 3:13 PM
54' | Mind-blowing defensive work from Jamshedpur
NorthEast keeps unleashing chances after chances, but they are lacking in the final third. Jamshedpur's defence has been very resolute so far.
Mar 30, 2025, 3:12 PM
53' | So close for Jithin!
Macarton brilliantly trapped the ball inside the box and passed it to Jithin, whose first-time strike went just a bit over the crossbar!
Mar 30, 2025, 3:10 PM
52' | Yellow for Macarton
Macarton Nickson receives a yellow for a foul.
Mar 30, 2025, 3:10 PM
50' | Good tackle from Zabaco
Tachikawa anticipated the long ball on the right as he kept a grounded minus into the box, but Zabaco denied Javi from having a strike.
Mar 30, 2025, 3:08 PM
49' | What an effort from Samte!
Samte intended to produce a cross from down the left flank, but the ball travelled to the right top bin. However, Albino Gomes kept the ball off target with a brilliant save.
Mar 30, 2025, 3:07 PM
47' | Chances for NorthEast
Two clumsy clearances came off the Jamshedpur defence, but Macarton and Albiach both failed to capitalize on the chances.
Mar 30, 2025, 3:04 PM
46' | The second half action begins
Mar 30, 2025, 2:49 PM
45'+4' | Here goes the half-time whistle. | HT NEUFC 0-1 JFC
Mar 30, 2025, 2:49 PM
45'+4' | Easy collection for Albino
Albiach kept the header on target that was easily collected by Albino Gomes.
Mar 30, 2025, 2:47 PM
45'+2' | Gurmeet collects
Mohammad Uvais kept a grounder on target from the left, but that was enough to beat Gurmeet.
Mar 30, 2025, 2:46 PM
45' | 3 minutes of additional minutes announced
Mar 30, 2025, 2:45 PM
44' | Battle in the middle
The tempo has slowed down a bit, but we are not short of action as the game is mostly being played in the middle of the park. The half-time break is also knocking on the doors.
Mar 30, 2025, 2:38 PM
37' | Effort from Sanan
Sanan attempted a volleyed strike from almost 35 yards into the middle, but skied it to the stands.
Mar 30, 2025, 2:37 PM
36' | Brilliant tackle from Redeem
Mohammed Sanan brezzed past Redeem Tlang on the left flank, attempting to produce a cross, but Redeem executed a clean diving tackle.
Stephen Eze has drawn the first blood for Jamshedpur!
Nestor Albiach made a wrongful touch following the Jamshedpur corner, which bounced off his feet and ended up in Eze at a very tough angle on the right to the six-yard box. The Jamshedpur defender absolutely fired it home with a right-footed strike, leaving no room for Gurmeet!
The visitors have broken the deadlock!
Mar 30, 2025, 2:28 PM
26' | Gurmeet stayed alert
It was an almost suicidal backpass from Asheer, which was close to being intercepted by a running Jordan Murray, but Gurmeet showed his awareness and cleared the danger away. Murray and Gurmeet clashed, but the game resumed after a minute.
Mar 30, 2025, 2:25 PM
24' | Jithin is closed down
Jithin MS and Mohammad Uvais battling on the right flank of NorthEast has been a treat to the eyes so far. Uvais has the upper hand so far, but Jithin will definitely not fall short.
Mar 30, 2025, 2:19 PM
18' | Tachikawa gets blocked
Rei Tachikawa sprinted toward the box from the left and cut in before taking a strike, but that was well-blocked by Bemammer.
Mar 30, 2025, 2:14 PM
13' | Eze gets booked
Stephen Eze is shown a yellow for a nasty foul on Albiach from behind.
Mar 30, 2025, 2:12 PM
11' | Ajaraie skies it over
Alaaeddine Ajaraie flashed a powerful right-footer from almost 30 yards out of the box, but the ball sailed way over the crossbar!
Mar 30, 2025, 2:11 PM
10' | Javi fails to connect
Javi Hernandez again found another open scoring opportunity following a cheeky flick from Murray, but the Jamshedpur skipper failed to connect his strike.
Mar 30, 2025, 2:09 PM
7' | WHAT WAS THAT?
What an absolute brilliant free-flowing football from NorthEast!
Redeem delivered a vicious cross from the right, which was met by Macarton at the edge of the goalpost. The ball went in, but Albino somehow revived it off the goal-line.
The goal was not given, and the replay showed that the ball touched Macarton's hand after bouncing off the pitch.
Fiery start!
Mar 30, 2025, 2:06 PM
6' | Attempt from Macarton
Macarton followed up a second ball from Akhtar and unleashed a strike from a distance, though it went wide off the far post.
Mar 30, 2025, 2:05 PM
4' | Sanan takes an effort
Mohammad Sanan took a strike from a distance, but Gurmeet swiftly claimed it.
Mar 30, 2025, 2:04 PM
3' | Chance for Jamshedpur
Brilliant ball delivered by Nikhil Barla from the right flank, but Javi Hernandez failed to anticipate the ball inside the box.
What a start to this game!
Mar 30, 2025, 2:03 PM
2' | Chance for NorthEast
Alaaeddine Ajaraie chipped the ball just in front of Macarton inside the box, but the NorthEast midfielder failed to convert it!
Mar 30, 2025, 2:00 PM
1' | Kick Off!
NorthEast United gets things underway in Shillong!
Ashutosh Mehta and Mobashir Rahman Start as Jamshedpur FC Gears Up for Battle๐ฅ๐ช Lazar & Pratik Miss Out Due to Injury while Sourav Misses Due to Suspension.
โ Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) March 30, 2025
Mar 30, 2025, 9:53 AM
Head-to-Head Stats in ISL | NEUFC vs JFC
Total matches played: 17
NorthEast United FC wins: 4
Jamshedpur FC wins: 7
Draws: 6
Mar 30, 2025, 9:48 AM
The Masterminds | Khalid Jamil
Jamshedpur FC head coach Khalid Jamil expressed his pleasure at playing the ISL playoffs in Shillong.
โWe are very happy to be in Shillong. There is a lot of love for football here. The stadium is looking fantastic, the crowd support is amazing, and we are looking forward to securing a positive result,โ he said.
Mar 30, 2025, 9:48 AM
The Masterminds | Juan Pedro Benali
NorthEast United FC head coach Juan Pedro Benali outlined his sideโs objectives entering into the knockout.
โWe need to be ready, not make any excuses, and score whenever chances come our way. We need to convert our opportunities and always be focused, and stop Jamshedpur FCโs special style of play,โ he said.
Mar 30, 2025, 9:44 AM
What's at stake?
The winner of this single-legged Knockout 2 match will take on the league-shield winners Mohun Bagan SG in the semi-finals.
Mar 30, 2025, 9:42 AM
Earlier this season
NorthEast United 5-0 Jamshedpur FC, 26 October 2024
NorthEast schooled Jamshedpur in a 5-0 triumph in the first league-stage fixture this season at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati. Alaaeddine Ajaraie and Parthib Gogoi both racked up braces, whereas Macartn scored another for the Highlanders.
Jamshedpur FC 0-2 NorthEast United, 13 February 2025
In the reverse fixture, Jamshedpur failed to avenge their heavy defeat as they fell to a 0-2 defeat at home against NorthEast United. Alaaeddine Ajaraie scored a brace to earn all three points at the JRD Tata Sports Complex in Jamshedpur.
The live telecast of the match will be available on the Star Sports 3 TV Channel. The live streaming will also be available on the JioHostar App and website.
Hello and welcome to another live coverage of Indian football. Tonight, we will bring you all the live updates, news, and live scores of the high-voltage match between Indiaand Bangladesh in the third round of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers,
This match will be crucial for both teams to kick off their AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers campaign. So, sit back and enjoy the game asSportz Point provides you with all the real-time updates, team news, live scores, and match commentary tonight.
This is Soumit Bhattacharya, who will bring you all the updates of the match from the web desk.
Moreover, you can follow us on Twitter for all the updates. Join our Telegram and WhatsApp channelsto get all the news and scores.
Enjoy the coverage!
LIVE Updates
Mar 25, 2025, 3:30 PM
Full-time | India 0-0 Bangladesh
India and Bangladesh have shared the spoils in a 0-0 stalemate in the opening game of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers.
Both teams created a lot of chances but failed to convert any of them. Boris Singh showcased an impressive display in his first start for the national team, whereas Hamza Choudhury, the Premier League star, has put up a monumental performance in his debut for Bangladesh.
Sunil Chhetri and Subhasish Bose had more than one chance, but Bangladesh's defence kept that at bay. On the contrary, Bangladesh found chances through Jony and Rakib mostly, who failed to convert the chances.
The first goalless draw between India and Bangladesh since 1999 as both teams started off their campaign with a point apiece.
Mar 25, 2025, 3:24 PM
90'+6' | The final whsitel is blown! | FT IND 0-0 BAN
โ Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) March 25, 2025
Mar 25, 2025, 3:24 PM
90'+5' | So close for Rakib!
Rakib got his feet on the ball out of nowhere on the left side of the box but sailed his strike way over the target!
Mar 25, 2025, 3:23 PM
90'+4' | Chance for India
Brison received the ball inside the box and showed his skills before delivering a cut-back pass. Hamza Choudhury stood tall in making a crucial interception, and the ball was cleared away.
Mar 25, 2025, 3:20 PM
90'+2' | The game has stopped
Irfan Yadwad and Rahmat Mia both went for a ball but collided instead. The players are receiving medical attention.
Mar 25, 2025, 3:18 PM
90' | 5 minutes of stoppage time added on
Mar 25, 2025, 3:18 PM
89' | Vishal with an important save!
Fahim suddenly found space on the left to slice a left-footed strike from a distance, which was brilliantly stopped by Vishal Kaith under India's sticks!
Mar 25, 2025, 3:14 PM
85' | Substitutions for India
In: Ashique Kuruniyan, Irfan Yadwad
Out: Sunil Chhetri, Subhasish Bose
Mar 25, 2025, 3:13 PM
84' | Oh! So close for Sunil!
Mahesh whipped the ball into the box from the middle, which found Chhetri totally free inside the box, but that was a very lackluster header from Chhetri.
Chhetri visibly can not belive it!
Mar 25, 2025, 3:10 PM
Hamza and Liston: Both has been a joy to watch!
Mar 25, 2025, 3:08 PM
Into the last ten minutes!
๐จ Group C update! Singapore ๐ธ๐ฌ and Hong Kong ๐ญ๐ฐ play out a goalless draw in their opening game of the AFC Asian Cup final round qualifiers.
A big chance for India ๐ฎ๐ณ to capitalize โฝ๐ฅ
โ The Bridge Football (@bridge_football) March 25, 2025
Mar 25, 2025, 3:08 PM
79' | Substitutions for Bangladesh
In: Sohel Rana, Mohammed Sohel Rana
Out: Shekh Morsalin, Mohammad Hridoy
Mar 25, 2025, 3:04 PM
77' | Substitution for India
In: Brison Fernandes
Out: Farukh Chaudhary
Mar 25, 2025, 3:04 PM
75' | Chance for Bangladesh
Hossain squared the ball into the middle from the right, as Mohammad Fahim attempted to find a touch on it but ended up shooting the ball wide.
Mar 25, 2025, 3:02 PM
73' | Just off the target for Subhasish!
Colaco delivered the corner into the middle. where Subhasish Bose unleashed a bolstering header, but that went past the near post!
Mar 25, 2025, 3:01 PM
72' | Chance for India
Sunil Chhetri set the ball up for Farukh with a short pass just in front of the box, but Farukh's strike suffered a deflection and soared just past the left post!
Mar 25, 2025, 2:59 PM
20 minutes to go!
Can India or Bangladesh break the deadlock?
Mar 25, 2025, 2:58 PM
70' | Ridoy is booked
Mohammad Hridoy received a booking for a nasty challenge on Apuia.
Mar 25, 2025, 2:56 PM
68' | Bose almost found the net!
Subhiasish Bose cut it into the middle and unleashed a blistering right-footed strike that went inches off the right post!
Mar 25, 2025, 2:54 PM
66' | Substitutions for India
In: Suresh Wangjam, Naoream Mahesh Singh
Out: Ayush Dev Chhetri, Udanta Singh
Mar 25, 2025, 2:51 PM
63' | Sunil skies it over
Sunil Chhetri had an attempt following the cross from the corner, but he skied it way over the bar!
Mar 25, 2025, 2:50 PM
62' | Substitutions for Bangaldesh
In: Chandon Roy, Mohammed Fahim
Out: Shahriar Emon, Mahbubur Jony
Mar 25, 2025, 2:50 PM
61' | What is wrong with Vishal Tonight?
Kaith gave away the ball once again, and Jony entered the box before passing it into the middle. Subhasish Bose made two important interceptions to clear the ball away from danger.
Vishal has clearly been under so much pressure tonight so far. Those are very uncharacteristic errors from the Indian skipper.
Mar 25, 2025, 2:47 PM
58' | So close for Chhetri!
Sunil Chhetri powered a header from the middle of the box following a cross from the right, but Hamza Chaudhary did well to block the attempt.
There was an appeal for handball from the Indian players, but the referee kept things as it is.
Mar 25, 2025, 2:44 PM
55' | Chance for India
Liston Colaco did his best to beat Rahmat Mia on the left before producing a right-footed cross into the box, but Sunil Chhetri could not reach the height to meet the ball.
Mar 25, 2025, 2:39 PM
51' | Chance for Bangaldesh
Rakib Hossain sprinted upwards on the right but side-netted his strike with a powerful grounder.
Mar 25, 2025, 2:39 PM
50' | Bangaldesh defence stay alert
Mar 25, 2025, 2:38 PM
48' | Hamza with a good challenge
Liston displayed excellent footwork to breeze past Rahmat in the center before driving down the left flank. Hamza Chouchury made a strong challenge to win the ball for Bangladesh.
Mar 25, 2025, 2:35 PM
46' | Second half begins
Mar 25, 2025, 2:18 PM
45'+2' | Here goes the half-time whistle! | HT IND 0-0 BAN
โ Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) March 25, 2025
Mar 25, 2025, 2:16 PM
45' | 2 minutes of additional time announced
Mar 25, 2025, 2:14 PM
42' | Brilliant tackle from Vishal!
This was a brilliantly executed counter-attack from Bangladesh, as Jony went past everyone on the right, with only Vishal Kaith standing in front of him, but the Indian keeper came forward to dive on his feet, denying him from taking a firm strike from such a close distance!
Mar 25, 2025, 2:12 PM
41' | Flick from Mitul.
Liston Colaco delivered a cross from the left corner, trying to pull off an Olympico goal, but Mitul jumped above all to flick it around the far post.
Mar 25, 2025, 2:12 PM
40' | Chance for India
Sunil Chhetri was totally locked down inside the box, but he played it to Farukh, whose strike was immediately blocked!
Mar 25, 2025, 2:10 PM
37' | Vishal makes a high claim
Hossain breezed past Boris on the left and tried to put a cross in, which ended up in a very well-claimed catch in the air by Kaith.
Mar 25, 2025, 2:07 PM
35' | Liston goes off target
On the quick counter-attack, Liston went towards the goal from the left flank but could not find Sunil Chhetri in the middle, who was pushed down by Rahmat in the middle. Lack of options forced Liston to take the strike all by himself, but the ball rolled inches off the far post.
Mar 25, 2025, 2:06 PM
34' | Important clearence from Apuia
Following the cross from Rahmat, Subhasish blocked Emon on the right, as the second ball was perfectly cleared by Apuia on time!
Mar 25, 2025, 2:04 PM
31' | Another series of chances for India!
Subhasish Bose sprinted upwards from the left, producing a vicious cross into the box as Udanta powered a header but kept it off target! Farukh had another bite from the second ball, but his shot was saved by Mitul at the left bottom corner!
Mar 25, 2025, 2:01 PM
28' | Easy collection for Mitul
Liston kept the strike on target from a long distance, but it was a routine collection for Bangladesh custodian Mitul, who claimed it easily.
Mar 25, 2025, 1:58 PM
26' | Good tackle from Bheke
Rakib sprinted on the left flank with pace, but Rahul Bheke made a last-minute clean tackle that denied the Bangladeshi forward from producing a cross.
Mar 25, 2025, 1:56 PM
23' | So close for Liston!
Liston unleashed the set-piece free kick with his right foot and sailed a cross into the box, but substitute Rahmat flicked the ball away for a corner.
Mar 25, 2025, 1:54 PM
22' | Substitution for Bangladesh
Big blow for Bangladesh as captain Topu Barman is replaced and is stretchered off the field.
In: Rahmat Mia
Out: Topu Barman
Mar 25, 2025, 1:53 PM
21' | Yellow for Jony
Jony gets the first yellow of the evening for a foul on Ayush Chhetri.
Mar 25, 2025, 1:50 PM
16' | Sandesh clears the danger
Sandesh Jhingan sent the ball over the line to clear off a looming danger following an attack from Jony, who entered the box from the right.
Mar 25, 2025, 1:48 PM
15' | India looks under pressure
In the opening quarter of this match, Bangladesh has received quite a few opportunities while India has yet to attempt a shot on goal.
Mar 25, 2025, 1:45 PM
11' | Goal-line clearence from Subhasish!
That was an unconventional error from Vishal Kaith, who wanted to release the attack, but Shakil Topu blocked the shot. The ball went back to Hridoy, who had an open goal in front of him, but his strike from the left was spectacularly blocked on the goal-line by Subhasish Bose!
Mar 25, 2025, 1:39 PM
7' | Robust challenge from Topu
Farukh Choudhary received the ball on the right flank, but Topu Barman made a no-nonsense challenge to clear the ball.
Mar 25, 2025, 1:36 PM
4' | Bheke clears
Hamza won the ball in the middle and led the attack upwards, but Rahul Bheke made a strong clearance.
โ Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) March 25, 2025
Mar 25, 2025, 11:14 AM
Captain, Leader, Legend!
Mar 25, 2025, 11:13 AM
The main man of Bangladesh!
Javier Cabrera on Hamza Choudharyโs addition? ๐ฃ๏ธ : โHamza, obviously, is a good player who played in the Premier League. I think it's good for not just us, but Asian football that such players play for NT. I feel players will be very motivated to play with him.โ #90ndstoppagepic.twitter.com/o5Jc4G6MMk
โ Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) March 25, 2025
Mar 25, 2025, 11:11 AM
Locking horns!
Indian defender Sandesh Jhingan, and coach Manolo Marquez along with Bangladesh skipper Jamal Bhuyan, and coach Javier Cabrera in the pre-match press conference on March 23 ahead of the match. (Image Credit | Bangladesh Football Federation)
โ Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) March 25, 2025
Mar 25, 2025, 11:03 AM
The Venue | Polo Ground, Shillong
Mar 25, 2025, 11:01 AM
How to watch the match?
Indian football fans can watch the live broadcast of the India vs Bangladesh match on Star Sports 3 TV Channel. The match will also be streamed live on the JioHotstar App and the JioHotstar website.
Mar 25, 2025, 11:00 AM
Match Details
Match: India vs Bangladesh
Tournament: 2027 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers Third & Final Round
Kerala Blasters reportedly hire Spanish tactician David Doniga as the new head coach
According to reports, former Panama and El Salvador manager David Doniga has been hired as the new head coach of Indian Super League side Kerala Blasters FC.
Indian Super League outfit Kerala Blasters have reportedly finalized appointing their new head coach for next season's edition of India's primary football tournament.
According to multiple reports, the Manjappadas have roped in former El Salvador managerDavid Doniga as their new head coach, while the contract negotiations are in the final stages.
Kerala Blasters have finalised their coach and are now into the final stages of contract negotiations. The club expects to have a coach in place in the next 2-3 days.#IndianFootball#ISL#KBFC
David Doniga will reportedly acquire the Kerala Blasters' hot-seat
Doniga during El Salvador's clash in a friendly against Argentina. (Image Credit | Getty)
David Doniga has a very impressive coaching career despite taking up jobs mostly as an assistant manager. The 43-year-old Spanish tactician has gathered experience in coaching across 6 countries: Spain, Kuwait, Ecuador, Panama, El Salvador, and Bolivia.
Leading El Salvador to the CONCACAF Nations League A is the most praiseworthy feat Doniga has achieved so far in his career. The Spanish mastermind became the head coach of El Salvador in January 2024 before getting sacked a year later, in February 2025.
In the 2024-25 CONCACAF Nations League B Group A, El Salvador topped the group with five wins out of six games, earning promotion to League A, and earning qualification for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup as well under his managerial radar.
Interestingly, Doniga was on the sidelines when El Salvador faced world champions Argentina in a 0-3 defeat in Philadelphia, US on March 23, 2024. During his tenure, Doniga oversaw 14 matches with El Salvador, achieving 7 victories, 3 draws, and 4 losses
Doniga served as an assistant coach in Kuwaiti football in 2021 and was appointed as an assistant to Thomas Christiansen on the Panama national team, where he also led the under-23 squad.
Doniga as Panama U-23 coach in 2023.
The Spanish manager also became a crucial tactical brain behind Panama's brilliant run in the third round of the 2022 World Cup qualifying, when Panama finished fifth on the table, missing out of the inter-continental play-off zone for only four points.
In 2022, he had a brief coaching stint with AD Nueve de Octubre in the Ecuadorian Liga Pro Serie A. After that, he worked with Sporting San Miguelito in Panamanian football from June to December 2023.
Doniga (third from the left) with Victor Sanchez (second from the left) while working for Deportivo de la Coruna. (Image Credit | MCS Sports)
However, Doniga has experience working in LaLiga as well, having assisted Victor Sanchez as an assistant coach for Real Betis between November 2016 to May 2017. He also assisted Victor for clubs such as Spanish sides Deportivo, Malaga, and Greek side Olympiacos in different short stints.
India vs Bangladesh AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers: Here is everything you need to know
Catch the latest updates, news, where to watch the game, and everything you need to know about the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifier match between India and Bangladesh on 24 March 2025.
The Indian National Football Team will go against its Asian counterpart Bangladesh in the third round of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers, set to take place at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong on March 25, 2025.
โ Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) March 24, 2025
The Blue Tigers faced the Red and Green in the opening game of the 2021 SAFF Championship, which was also their last meeting in competitive stages. Indian captain Sunil Chhetriโs goal was canceled out by Yeasin Arafat in the final quarter of the game, ending the game in a 1-1 stalemate.
However, India and Bangladesh will lock horns in an even more significant match-up, as the teams will leave no stone unturned to qualify for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia.
From the left: Jhingan, Manolo, Carbera and Jamal. (Image Credit | BFF on Facebook)
From possible starting XIs to team news and head-to-head stats, here is everything you need to know about the India vs Bangladesh matchin the third round of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers.
Football fans in India can watch the live broadcasting of the match on Star Sports Network. The match will also be streamed live on the JioHotstar app, and the JioHotstar website.
However, India will take up a different challenge against Bangladesh on Tuesday, eyeing a good start to the third round of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers. India was drawn with Hong Kong, Singapore, and Bangladesh in Group C, as the campaign will commence against the Bengal Tigers.
With the third consecutive Asian Cup finals appearance at stake, India will look for ways to capitalize on the home advantage in the primary stage of the qualification round.
(Image Credit | IFT on X)
Captain Sunil Chhetri's comeback from retirement has inspired the Indian team, as the 40-year-old netted a goal in the game against Maldives, and will lead the Blue Tigers from the front against Bangladesh as well.
In the meantime, midfielder Brandon Fernandes has been sidelined due to an injury he suffered during the Maldives match. Forwards Lallianzuala Chhangte, Manvir Singh, and defender Asish Rai have previously left the Indian squad for different injuries.
Manolo Marquez has called up Udanta Singh, another experienced winger along with Macarton Nickson, who has received his maiden call-up for the national team.
โ Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) March 21, 2025
India's fixtures in the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers Third (Final) Round:
March 25, 2025:India vs Bangladesh (home) June 10, 2025:Hong Kong vs India (away) October 9, 2025:India vs Singapore (home) October 14, 2025:Singapore vs India (away) November 18, 2025:Bangladesh vs India (away) March 31, 2026:India vs Hong Kong (home)
Bangladesh
Bangladesh team in training. (Image Credit | BFF on Facebook)
Although the Bengal Tigers have qualified for the Asian Cup only once in 1980, they have been handed a boost with the arrival of Sheffield United midfielder Hamza Choudhury, who has switched his allegiance to Bangladesh. back in December 2024.
The 27-year-old midfielder has played for Leicester City and has made 57 appearances in the Premier League, whereas he has also represented England U-21 in seven matches.
Bangladesh head coach Javier Cabrera has previously worked in Indian football as he was the assistant coach of Sporting Clube de Goa between 2013 and 2015.
Jamal Bhuyan, the Bangladeshi skipper is another crucial piece in the Bengal Tigersโ attacking line-up, having emerged from the FC Copenhagen youth ranks and spending a year at Sol De Mayo, a third-tier Argentine side in 2023-24.
Cabrera will also have his full squad available for selection ahead of this huge game against India.
Will Indian-Origin players ever get to play for India? AIFF keeps showing its aimless approach
AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey has recently opened up regarding the possibility of Indian-Origin players playing for India, but Indian football fans have criticized AIFF's lackluster approach.
Describing the move as a potential "game-changer" for Indian football, Cahaubey stated that the AIFF is "actively working" to explore the feasibility of this plan.
However, Chaubey first addressed this issue which dates back to 2023, when he stated that AIFF is "looking to approach"24 PIO (Persons of Indian Origin) players, who could represent the national team. Although the AIFF chief did not reveal the players' names back then, there have been no updates regarding the approach as well.
Convincingly, Indian football fans have been fuming over these lackluster and aimless plans from AIFF which have not been materialized yet. This is why what Chaubey said to PTI on Thursday, has sparked further dissatisfaction among Indian football fans.
"Making efforts to create": Does AIFF actually have a plan?
(Image Credit | AIFF)
Speaking to PTI, Chaubey has stated the following on the sidelines of the Khelo India Para Games 2025 in New Delhi.
We are making efforts to create a policy framework that allows us to utilise the talent of overseas Indian-origin (OCA) players,
Many countries have already done this, and until we establish clear guidelines, our national team selection will continue to follow existing rules. However, we must recognise that integrating these players could be a game-changer for Indian football.
At present, we are depending on a single player like Sunil Chhetri in crucial moments. The question remains -- who will take his place? We need a long-term plan to develop Indian strikers, especially for the No. 9 and No. 10 positions.
Currently, most clubs prefer foreign strikers in these roles, which hampers the growth of Indian forwards. Our aim is to change that by creating better pathways for our players,
Chaubey's comments have not encouraged Indian football fans much, especially since the AIFF is still 'developing' a policy for OCA players.
In contrast, neighboring country Bangladesh has already landed midfielder Hamza Choudhary, who has represented England at the youth level and has played for Leicester City in the Premier League. He is currently on loan at Sheffield United, which competes in the EFL Championship.
Previous instances regarding the possibility of OCI and PIO players representing India
Micheal Chopra during his time at Ipswich Town.
When Englishman Bob Houghton served as the head coach of the Indian national football team from 2006 to 2011, there were attempts to reach out to Michael Chopra.
Chopra had previously played for England's youth teams and for clubs such as Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest, to see if he would be interested in representing India.
Michael Chopra - for a while, this man was arguably the best striker in the championship, consistently bagging for Cardiff over 2 spells. Also spent time at both Newcastle and Sunderland, as well as Ipswich and Blackpool, but it was in South Wales where he made himself a hero pic.twitter.com/vAVW0YHcVd
However, a government rule implemented in 2008 thrashed any hopes of including players of Indian origin (PIO) in the national squad. This rule stipulated that PIO and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders must renounce their foreign citizenship and obtain Indian passports to be eligible to play for India.
In 2020, Indian Origin player Aryn Williams, who played for NEROCA FC in 2017-19, shared his story on why he gave up the dreams of representing the Indian National Team. The midfielder, who represented Australia at senior levels, said the following.
That was my ultimate goal, to get an Indian passport and go to the national team, But when I arrived, it just proved to be an impossible task. I went through many agencies and companies but nobody really knew what to do. It was making me stressed so in the end I left it.
Ryan Williams, who currently plays for Bengaluru FC, has a twin brother, Aryn Williams, who featured for NEROCA FC in India between 2017 and 2019. Interestingly, their maternal grandfather, Linky Grostate, represented Bombay in the Santosh Trophy during the 1950s, highlighting aโฆ pic.twitter.com/5kki9sivAe
Yan Dhanda, another Indian-origin footballer who previously played for Liverpool in the youth divisions and was also a part of the England U-17 team that won the UEFA U-17 EURO Championship in 2017; expressed his hopes to play for India as a dual citizen.
Dhanda wrote the following on X (Twitter) in response to the then-AIFF secretary-generalDr. Shaji Prabhakaran.
Giving up my passport means I canโt play professionally in the UK and some European clubs, due to Indiaโs FIFA ranking. Permitting OCI cards, similar to other countries, will allow me to represent the Indian football team as a dual national. I hope this can happen soon
Giving up my passport means I canโt play professionally in the UK and some European clubs, due to Indiaโs FIFA ranking. Permitting OCI cards, similar to other countries, will allow me to represent the Indian football team as a dual national. I hope this can happen soon ๐๐ฝ https://t.co/YOfT5YmnIa
Back in August 2023, AIFF formulated a task force to conduct a feasibility study of allowing Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) to play in the country's national teams.
Official statement of the task force formulation. (Image Source | X)
The task force, which was constituted by Kalyan Chaubey was supposed to explore and analyze the PIO and OCI footballers playing at a higher level and the status of the youth players of the same. It was chaired by Punjab Football Association president Samir Thapar.
โWe will first form a comprehensive database on the OCI and PIO footballers around the world, and then look for the best possible ways to use such players to take Indian football forward."
The Task Force's primary objective will be to collect data on footballers who are either Overseas Citizens of India or Persons of Indian Origin. It is a matter of great pride for us that many such footballers are playing in different countries with distinction and have made a name for themselves in the tough world of professional football.
However, its report was supposed to be submitted by January 31, 2024. In December 2023, AIFF confirmed that they are approaching 24 PIO players soon. Chaubey told the following to PTI in an interview:
We are looking to approach 24 PIO players who are playing across the world. But you know there is the issue of dual citizenship (not being permitted to play for India). So, we have to see how this can be done within the framework of the Central Governmentโs rules,
We are having internal discussions on the matter and will come out with more details once more clarity is established.
Former Indian coach Igor Stimac had strongly advocated multiple times for the inclusion of OCI and PIO players into the national team. Post his sacking, Stimac summed up the situation via his comments. He stated:
Indiaโs football is in prisons. No involvement of OCI players. Without PIO/OCI, football development in India is going to be difficult. Itโll take at least two decades to develop world-class players from India.
Iโm not sure if there is any other country which is not allowing players of their origin to represent their country.โ
It is a huge handicap because there are many good players of Indian origin playing in the top leagues of Europe. So it could be a big help if we speak about bigger achievements.
The Pathways for OCI Card Holders to represent India
FIFA regulations state that a player must hold the passport of the country they represent. The Commentary on the Rules Governing Eligibility to Play for Representative Teams published by FIFA also mentions that:
"The only document considered to be valid proof of a player's identity and nationality shall be a permanent international passport that explicitly, and in Latin characters, states the player's full name, date of birth, place of birth and nationality".
Furthermore, the FIFA regulations for the World Cup 2022 state that "A player without a valid permanent international passport shall not be entitled to play."
A country's policy regarding dual or multiple citizenship is associated with its policy regarding eligibility criteria for athletes. Athletes representing a country that has dual or multiple citizenship are generally permitted to play on their teams and by their names. Australia, Brazil, France, the United States, the United Kingdom, and South Africa are some of the countries that embrace dual citizenship. An athlete has to forgo their existing nationality and seek naturalization in the nation they wish to represent in nations that do not accept dual nationality, such as India.
All those persons who were born in India or whose parents were born in India are entitled to Indian citizenship as per the provisions of the Indian Constitution. Other requirements of acquiring, determining, and withdrawing Indian citizenship are stated in the Citizenship Act of 1955. But dual citizenship is not allowed under the Citizenship Act of 1955.
As per Section 9 of the Citizenship Act, a person who has acquired citizenship of some other country cannot be a citizen of India unless he relinquishes his citizenship in that country by making a declaration in a proper format. In addition, no Indian national can acquire citizenship of any foreign nation freely, as stated by Article 9 of the Indian Constitution.
The Indian government takes a firm stance on citizenship restrictions, which prohibit dual citizenship. Unless there is a drastic change in policy, only Indian citizens would be eligible to represent the country in international tournaments. Regardless of ability, every OCI or PIO card holder is ineligible.
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