Author: Rahul Giri

Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG) will kick off their AFC Champions League Two 2025-26 campaign at home on September 16, when they take on Turkmenistan’s FK Ahal at the Salt Lake Stadium. This will be Ahal’s sixth appearance in a continental competition, having previously featured in the top-tier AFC Champions League Elite. Earlier this year, the Turkmen side secured qualification for the second-tier competition by defeating Tajikistan’s Regar-TadAZ 2-1 in the play-offs. There is limited information available about FK Ahal’s current squad and style of play, but Kolkata fans are not entirely unfamiliar with Turkmen clubs. East Bengal have faced…

FC Goa and Mohun Bagan played out a goalless draw in a friendly match at the Kishore Bharati Stadium on Monday morning. The game, which kicked off at 10 am, saw both teams enjoy periods of dominance but neither was able to find the back of the net. According to sources, Mohun Bagan looked the stronger side in the first half, while FC Goa came back better in the second. Despite creating seven or eight opportunities, Bagan struggled to break into the opposition box with conviction, while Goa too could not capitalise on their moments in the final third. Mohun…

India scripted history in Dushanbe on Thursday, defeating Oman 3-2 on penalties after a tense 1-1 draw over 120 minutes to secure third place in the CAFA Nations Cup. A result that underlined their grit and a growing belief under new head coach Khalid jamil. The contest began with Oman seeing more of the ball, but India created the clearer chances in the first half. In the 16th minute, Khalid Jamil’s strategy of exploiting long throws nearly paid off. Mohammed Uvais launched one deep into the Omani box, Nikhil Prabhu flicked it on, and Anwar Ali’s effort was heading goalwards…

For the Hawari family, football has never just been a sport. It has been about sacrifice, belief, and chasing a dream against the odds. That dream has now taken a historic turn with 16-year-old Ishaan Hawari becoming the first Indian to join the Everton Football College programme, a youth pathway linked with Premier League club Everton. Sitting in Manchester, his father Abdul Latheef remembers how it all began back in Malappuram. “One day I saw Ishaan playing on a neighbour’s ground. He had never trained, but the way he passed, dribbled, and struck the ball, it was all natural. I…

East Bengal Women scripted history by qualifying for the group stage of the AFC Women’s Champions League 2025/26. The Kolkata side sealed their place despite being held to a 1-1 draw by Hong Kong’s Kitchee SC in their final Group E fixture on Sunday. Midfielder Sangita Basfore, whose crucial goal proved decisive in East Bengal’s progression, opened up about her journey, challenges, and the emotions surrounding the achievement. Speaking to RevSportz, Sangita recalled how her association with East Bengal began with the support of head coach Anthony Andrews. “To be honest, when I first arrived in East Bengal, I got…

Tajikistan held top-ranked Iran to a 2-2 draw with two second-half goals, but the result was not enough for the hosts to reach the playoff stage of the CAFA Nations Cup. A superior head-to-head record ensured India booked their place in the third-place playoff against either Oman or Uzbekistan on 8 September. Earlier in the evening, India were held to a goalless draw by Afghanistan in their final group-stage encounter, leaving their qualification hopes dependent on the outcome of the Iran–Tajikistan clash. An upset win for Tajikistan would have ended India’s campaign. Iran, however, looked in complete control after Mohammad…

Rahul Giri India were held to a goalless draw by Afghanistan in their final group-stage encounter of the CAFA Nations Cup, leaving their qualification hopes hanging on the result of the Iran vs Tajikistan clash later in the night. Should Tajikistan manage an upset, India’s chances of progressing as the second-placed team could be dashed. Afghanistan, coached by Alberto Annese — who spent three years in India guiding Gokulam Kerala to two I-League titles and also had a stint with NorthEast United — had clearly done their homework. His side managed to frustrate India for large parts of the game,…

India head into their final Group B fixture of the CAFA Nations Cup against Afghanistan with everything to play for. A win would not only keep them in contention for a spot in the final, but also guarantee another competitive fixture in the third-place match on September 8 — a valuable opportunity in this international window. Head coach Khalid Jamil has made it clear that his side will not be distracted by calculations. “We are not thinking of all such scenarios at this point. There is no point to it,” he said on the eve of the game. “We will…

AIFF Secretary General M. Satyanarayan described the Supreme Court’s interim order in the ongoing AIFF vs FSDL case as “a victory for Indian football”, while emphasising that the Federation will take its next steps only after carefully studying the judgement. “The order was out yesterday, it is premature for us to comment unless our lawyers get the signed copy of the judgment and AIFF will be briefed,” Satyanarayan told RevSportz. “After that, we also need to apprise the executive committee of the developments and then we can comment on the way forward. The executive committee will advise keeping in mind…

By Rahul Giri The Indian men’s football team put up a gritty fight against continental powerhouse Iran before succumbing to a 0-3 defeat in their Group B clash of the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 at the Hisor Central Stadium on Monday. Head coach Khalid Jamil made two changes from the side that beat Tajikistan in the opener, bringing in Danish Farooq and Nikhil Prabhu while resting Jeakson Singh and Lallianzuala Chhangte. Against Iran, India’s game plan was clear, stay compact, congest the centre, and force the opponents wide. The strategy worked well in the opening stages. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu was…