India Reach Third-Place Playoff in CAFA Nations Cup After Dramatic Group Stage Finish

India has secured a spot in the third-place playoff of the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 after a tense conclusion to Group B, where results in other matches played a decisive role. The Blue Tigers, led by head coach Khalid Jamil, were held to a goalless draw by Afghanistan in their final group match at the Hisor Central Stadium in Hisor, Tajikistan, on Thursday.

With the draw, India ended its group stage campaign with four points from three games — one win, one loss, and one draw. However, qualification was not immediately confirmed. India had to wait for the result of the second Group B fixture of the day between Iran and host Tajikistan to know their fate. That match ended in a 2-2 draw, which allowed Iran to top the group with seven points and confirmed India’s second-place finish.

Tajikistan, despite being level with India on four points, was eliminated due to their 2-1 defeat to the Blue Tigers in the tournament opener, giving India the edge via head-to-head record. Afghanistan, who managed only one point, also exited the competition.

India will now contest the third-place playoff match on September 8 at the same venue, against the second-placed team from Group A, a position that remains tightly contested. As of now, Oman and Uzbekistan are level on four points each, with identical goal difference (+1) and goals scored (3). The final group matches on September 5 will determine India’s opponent, as Oman takes on Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan faces Kyrgyz Republic in Tashkent.

Despite the goalless draw against Afghanistan, India showed resilience in a challenging group. The team’s performance in the tournament has been a reflection of Khalid Jamil’s steady management and the players’ ability to navigate pressure situations.

With a third-place finish now within reach, the Blue Tigers have another chance to make their mark in the Central Asian competition, and potentially return home with silverware from a hard-fought campaign.