Author: Webdesk

Rahul Giri in Shillong The rivalry between India and Bangladesh is already heating up in Shillong ahead of their AFC Asian Cup qualifier opening game on March 25. Bangladesh have raised concerns over the condition of the practice ground provided to them, with head coach Javier Cabrera expressing his disappointment, calling the surface “sub-par”. As a result, the team opted for a light training session on Friday, a day after arriving in the Meghalaya capital. According to sources from the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the Meghalaya Football Association, the hosts were only obligated to provide practice facilities to…

NorthEast United FC midfielder Macarton Louis Nickson has been called up to the national team camp ahead of the much-anticipated AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers opener against Bangladesh. Macarton, the son of former Indian international footballer Lewis Nickson, dreamt of following in his father’s footsteps, and that dream has now turned into reality. Following Brendon Fernandes’ unavailability for the Bangladesh game due to the injury he suffered in the friendly against the Maldives, head coach Manolo Marquez had to search for a replacement. Trusting in the abilities of the 20-year-old midfielder, who admires Brendon Fernandes’ playstyle and draws inspiration from his…

It was the first-ever international fixture at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong when India took on the Maldives in a friendly and Sunil Chhetri led Indian team and made the occasion memorable with an emphatic 3-0 victory over the visitors. The win marked India’s first victory in 489 days, their last triumph coming against Kuwait in November 2023. Sunil Chhetri also justified his return to the national team by scoring his 95th international goal in his comeback match after reversing his retirement decision. Head Coach Manolo Marquez secured his first victory since taking charge last year. It was also…

India face Maldives in a friendly match to fine-tune their combination ahead of their crucial AFC Asian Cup Qualifying opener against Bangladesh on March 25. Both matches will be played at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong from 7 PM, marking the first-ever international fixtures for Meghalaya’s capital, a city that breathes football. In pursuit of their first win since defeating Kuwait in November 2023, 489 days ago, the Blue Tigers will aim to snap their winless run against the 162nd-ranked Maldives, who will face the Philippines in their Asian Cup Qualifier first-round game. Since Manolo Marquez took charge as…

In the build-up to their crucial AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers, India and Maldives are set to face off in a friendly in Shillong on March 19 at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. It will be the first international fixture at the venue. With India yet to win a game since beating Kuwait in November 2023, they will aim to turn things around. Additionally, they have their eyes on a third consecutive qualification for the AFC Asian Cup in 2027, with their campaign kicking off against Bangladesh on March 25. That’s why, the friendly against Maldives serves as a crucial rehearsal for…

Sheffield United midfielder Hamza Choudhury has arrived at Sylhet airport to a hero’s welcome, marking a significant moment in Bangladesh football history. Excited fans and media personnel gathered in large numbers to witness his arrival as he prepares to make his much-anticipated debut for Bangladesh in the first leg of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Final Round against India on March 25 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong. Before flying to Bangladesh, Hamza played a full 90 minutes in the Sheffield Derby against Sheffield Wednesday in the EFL Championship (England’s second tier) on Sunday evening. Sheffield United secured…

Despite a spirited display, East Bengal were knocked out of the AFC Challenge League quarter-finals after a 2-1 defeat against Arkadag in the second leg. The Kolkata giants had earlier failed to capitalise on home conditions in the first leg, suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat, which proved costly. In the decisive away fixture, East Bengal put up a strong fight, but Lalchungnunga’s red card in the 34th minute made their task significantly harder. After a disappointing ISL campaign, the AFC Challenge League had kept hopes alive for East Bengal fans, but with this exit, only the Super Cup remains…

Sunil Chhetri made headlines last week with his stunning comeback to the national team, having announced his retirement in June last year. Some fans are elated with the return of the 40-year-old ahead of India’s crucial AFC Asian Cup qualification opener against Bangladesh on March 25, while others are concerned about the future of the national team after the Chhetri era. India’s head coach Manolo Marquez, who also oversees FC Goa, has stated that Chhetri is currently the best striker in the ISL. Hence, he didn’t need to think twice before making this decision. “At this moment, even at 40,…

In a stunning turn of events, Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri has decided to come out of retirement and rejoin the national team for the upcoming FIFA international window in March. The official announcement was made by the Indian football team’s social media handles, sending waves of excitement across the country’s football fraternity. Chhetri, who had bid an emotional farewell to international football on 6th of June 2024, after the match against Kuwait, will now return to the squad as India prepare to face Maldives for a friendly and Bangladesh in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers opener. The highly anticipated…

East Bengal failed to capitalise on home advantage in the first leg of their AFC Challenge League quarterfinal clash against FK Arkadag, suffering a frustrating 1-0 defeat at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. An early goal from Yazgylych Gurbanov proved to be the difference, as the Kolkata side, despite relentless efforts, could not find the equaliser. The atmosphere inside the stadium was electric, with thousands of passionate East Bengal supporters waving red-and-yellow flags alongside national flags, hoping to witness a historic night after an 11-year wait for continental action. However, the players failed to rise to the occasion. Arkadag, a…