India Must Step Up Defensively After Jhingan Injury, Says Anwar Ali Ahead of Oman Clash

India’s defender Anwar Ali has called on his teammates to step up in the absence of veteran centre-back Sandesh Jhingan as the Blue Tigers prepare to face Oman in the third-place playoff of the CAFA Nations Cup 2025.

India, making their debut in the regional competition, finished second in Group B after registering a win, a draw and a loss – edging hosts Tajikistan on points. Their defensive solidity under new head coach Khalid Jamil has been a key feature, but the side will now have to cope without Jhingan, who fractured his jaw during the clash against Iran and has been ruled out of the tournament.

The playoff against Oman, ranked 79th in the FIFA standings compared to India’s 133rd, will be played at the Hisor Central Stadium in Tajikistan on September 8. The match kicks off at 17:30 IST.

For Anwar, who delivered a standout performance in India’s 0-0 draw against Afghanistan and was named Player of the Match, the contest is another chance to strengthen the squad’s preparation for bigger goals. “An international game is an international game. Every time you play at this level, it gives you more confidence,” he said. “I think it’s a good opportunity for us to prepare for the Asian Cup qualifiers. We will give it our best on Monday and try to get that third place.”

With Jhingan sidelined, Anwar is expected to lead the defence alongside Rahul Bheke, who has been deployed as a makeshift centre-back. The 25-year-old admitted filling the void left by India’s most experienced defender will not be easy but insisted the team is ready for the challenge. “He is obviously a big miss for us, but that’s how things are in football. We hope he’ll be back soon. Till then, the rest of us have to keep performing our roles and filling in his boots,” Anwar said.

India’s real target remains the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers, where they face Singapore in a two-legged tie next month. But against Oman, the Blue Tigers will be looking to show resilience and secure a morale-boosting finish to their maiden CAFA Nations Cup campaign.