Clifford Miranda named India U-23 team head coach as AIFF announce probable squad for AFC U-23 Asian Cup 2024 qualifiers

Clifford Miranda was the former interim manager of FC Goa and Odisha FC

A Technical Committee meeting of the All India Football Federation was held on Thursday, August 3, 2023, and was chaired by IM Vijayan via video conferencing.

Other members present in the meeting were Pinky Bompal Magar, Harjinder Singh, Arun Malhotra, Climax Lawrence and Eugeneson Lyngdoh. The AIFF Technical Director, Syed Shabir Pasha, attended the meeting.

After extensive deliberations, the committee recommended Clifford Miranda for the post of Head Coach of the Indian men’s U-23 national team. The committee recommended Nallappan Mohanraj as the assistant coach, Raghuvir Khanwalkar as the goalkeeping coach and Gavin Elias Araujo as the fitness coach.

Welcoming Clifford Miranda’s appointment, the AIFF Secretary General Dr Shaji Prabhakaran said, “Congratulations to Clifford for being selected as the head coach of the Indian men’s U-23 national team, which will play in the AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qualifiers in China. Clifford did well to win the Super Cup for Odisha FC, and I’m sure we can expect a good performance from the Indian team.”

In April, Miranda became the first Indian coach to win a major title with an ISL team in the shape of the Super Cup in Kerala. Miranda had a glittering playing career with the Indian senior team, which spanned nine years from 2005 to 2014. The midfielder won two SAFF Championships, two Nehru Cup titles and an AFC Challenge Cup with the Blue Tigers. At the club level, he was a five-time NFL/I-League champion with Dempo SC.

A probables list of 28 players for the AFC U-23 Asian Cup™ Qatar 2024 Qualifiers was also announced. The squad will begin their preparatory camp in Bhubaneswar on August 12. India are drawn against Maldives, United Arab Emirates and hosts China PR in Group G of the qualifiers, which are scheduled to be held between September 6-12, 2023 in Dalian.

The AFC U-23 Asian Cup™ Qatar 2024, which will also serve as a qualifier for the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament Paris 2024, will be the competition’s sixth edition, and India will attempt to make it to the final tournament for the first time.

AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024 Qualifiers probable list:

Goalkeepers: Sachin Suresh, Hrithik Tiwari, Prabhsukhan Singh Gill, Arsh Anwer Shaikh.

Defenders: Narender Gahlot, Hormipam Ruivah, Bikash Yumnam, Halen Nongtdu, Sanjeev Stalin, Sumit Rathi, Jitendra Singh, Abdul Rabeeh.

Midfielders: Thoiba Singh Moirangthem, Lalrinliana Hnamte, Jiteshwor Singh Yumkhaibam, Ayush Dev Chhetri, Vibin Mohanan, Brison Deuben Fernandes, Amarjit Singh Kiyam.

Forwards: Sourav K, Vikram Partap Singh, Parthib Gogoi, Rohit Danu, Ninthoinganba Meetei Khumanthem, Gurkirat Singh, Ayush Chhikara, Sivasakthi Narayanan, Suhail Ahmad Bhat.

Head Coach: Clifford Miranda.

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