SAFF Championship 2013 final preview: Afghanistan vs. India

Afghanistan Football Team at SAFF 2013

Form guide

Afghanistan: WWWDW

Afghanistan have lost just one out of their nine games in this calendar year and that was a narrow 3-2 away defeat against higher ranked Tajikistan. However the Afghans have never beaten India at the senior international level with the record reading one draw and four defeats in five matches.

India: LWDLW

India have recorded back-to-back wins under Wim Koevermans only twice during his reign so far and have beaten a higher-ranked team only once in four attempts. They needed a penalty shootout to beat Cameroon B in the Nehru Cup final last year and the Dutchman would happily settle for a similar result in this match as well.

Team news

Afghanistan

The big headache for Yousef Kargar will be whether to risk central defender Farzad Muhaiuddin as he suffered a serious head injury against Nepal and was taken to the hospital. If he doesn’t make the starting line up, Ali Ahmad Yarzada will be his replacement. Otherwise, the rest of the team picks itself although Amiruddin Anwar faces competition for a place in left midfield from the young Marouf Mohammadi, who makes his return from suspension.

Possible XI: Mansur Fagiryar; Mustafa Hadid, Zohib Islam Amiri, Ali Ahmad Yarzada, Mujtab Faiz; Mustafa Azadzoy, Mohammad Rafi, Mohammad Mashrigi, Marouf Mohammadi; Sanjar Ahmadi, Balal Arezou.

India

Robin Singh is expected to make way for skipper Sunil Chhetri who will of course return to the starting eleven. Arata Izumi is the only injury doubt and could be replaced by Jewel Raja but it would be interesting to see whether Koevermans retains Syed Rahim Nabi at left back or recalls Nallappan Mohanraj.

Possible XI: Subrata Pal; Nirmal Chettri, Gouramangi Singh, Arnab Mondal, Syed Rahim Nabi; Francis Fernandes, Mehtab Hossain, Lenny Rodrigues, Jeje Lalpekhlua; Jewel Raja; Sunil Chhetri.

Players To Watch

Afghanistan – Sanjar Ahmadi

The 21-year-old Germany-based striker has only netted once in this tournament but it has turned out to be his team’s most important goal so far as it came in the semi-final against hosts Nepal. Ahmadi is yet to play to his full potential at SAFF 2013 and the final might just be the game where he peaks.

India – Sunil Chhetri

India’s captain revealed that he didn’t enjoy watching the semi-final from the stands but was proud of his team’s effort and will now be determined to make a mark in the final. Sunil inspired India to success two years ago, and this time he will be eager to lead by example and complete India’s hat-trick of SAFF titles.