Last Update: January 22, 2023, 12:39 pm IST
Indian Under-17 Football Team (AIFF)
India U-17 football team will take on Uzbekistan U-17 in two friendly matches at the Tilak Maidan in Goa.
The realm of Vasco da Gama is full of anticipation. After hosting a number of ISL and I-League matches over the years, Tilak Maidan is all set to host it. India The U-17 men’s national team will face Uzbekistan U-17 in two friendly matches on 22 January and 24 January.
Coached by Bibiano Fernandes, the Blue Colts earned their ticket to the AFC U-17 Asian Cup in October 2022 as Group D runners-up in the qualification round to be held in Saudi Arabia. The team resumed and traveled to the national camp in Goa in November. An exposure tour to the UAE earlier this month, where they played a friendly against the host U-20 team, losing 0–1.
Fernandes said, “The UAE tour was short but very useful. It was a good test against the UAE U-20s to test our level against tough opponents. And regardless of the result, I am extremely happy with the performance of the boys. We created a lot of clear chances and if the finishing was better, we could have won the match. I am sure more such games will boost the confidence of the boys.”
As one of 16 teams to qualify for the AFC U-17 Asian Cup, Uzbekistan is sure to provide valuable match practice for the Blue Colts. Jamaliddin Rakhmatullayev’s side had a remarkable 2022 as they thrashed Brunei Darussalam 14-0 to qualify for the AFC U-17 Asian Cup, followed by a thrilling 3-2 win over heavyweights Korea Republic. Uzbekistan also finished runners-up to Iran in the CAFA U-16 Championship, missing out on the title only on goal difference.
“From what we have seen, Uzbekistan are a very good team. They are fast and physically very dominant. It will be a good fight and a good opportunity to check where we stand at the moment,” Fernandes said.
“International matches like these are extremely important in our preparation for the AFC U-17 Asian Cup as they give us the kind of challenges we can expect in the final tournament. Want to thank AIFF and SAI.”
Fernandes was also the head coach when India last faced Uzbekistan in this age group in the 2020 AFC U-16 Championship qualification round, which was held at the JAR Stadium in Tashkent, the Uzbek capital. It was a neck-and-neck affair that ended 1-1, with Sreedarth Nongmikapam putting India ahead in the second half, before the hosts equalized late on. India topped the group and qualified for the final tournament, which was unfortunately canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, Fernandes has crossed the qualifying stage again with a new crop of players. But he knows it is only the first step, and he and his boys must make the best use of the preparation time between now and the AFC U-17 Asian Cup in the summer.
The live streaming of the two Under-17 friendly matches between India and Uzbekistan will be done on the Indian Football YouTube channel.
fixtures:
January 22: India U-17 vs Uzbekistan U-17, 3:30 PM IST
January 24: India U-17 vs Uzbekistan U-17, January 24, 8:30 PM IST
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