Chhetri Back as Coach: Jamil Selects 30 Potential Players for Asian Cup vs Singapore

Following India’s commendable third-place finish in the CAFA Nations Cup, Head Coach Khalid Jamil of the national men’s football team announced a 30-member probables squad on Sunday. Notably, the squad includes superstar Sunil Chhetri for the forthcoming AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Singapore.

The preparatory camp of the national team will kick-off in Bengaluru from September 20th, with the squad reporting to the city a day earlier. Players from Mohun Bagan SG and FC Goa, who have been shortlisted for the preliminaries squad, will join later after they complete their AFC Champions League 2 duties.

Additionally, five players are on standby – two from the U23 men’s national team, and three senior players, their identities yet to be disclosed. The camp’s primary objective is to equip the Blue Tigers for their twin 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers final matches. Slated to be in Group C, they will face Singapore twice – first on October 9 at the National Stadium and then on October 14 at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao, Goa. The final squad for these two encounters will be selected from the probables.

The recent CAFA Nations Cup held in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan marked Jamil’s first assignment with the national team, succeeding Manolo Marquez. Notably, Chhetri was given rest during the CAFA Nations Cup.

Khalid Jamil, as the head coach, finalized the 30-member probables comprising of goalkeepers such as Amrinder Singh, Gurmeet Singh, and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. The Defence incorporates players like Anwar Ali, Bikash Yumnam, Chinglensana Singh Konsham among others. Midfielders and forwards include names like Ashique Kuruniyan, Danish Farooq Bhat, Irfan Yadwad, Lallianzuala Chhangte and Manvir Singh (jr).