What is Igor Stimac's record against Afghanistan?

Igor Stimac has faced the Lions of Khorasan on three different occasions.

Indian men’s national football team is gearing up for back-to-back 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (second round) fixtures against Afghanistan which are to take place on 22 March and 26 March 2024 respectively. Igor Stimac, head coach of the Blue Tigers, is under pressure to guide the team to the final round of the qualifiers by securing one of the top two positions in Group A which ensures a direct berth. 

To that end, the Croatian must motivate the players to secure wins in both fixtures against an Afghanistan side that has conceded 12 goals from their opening two matches playing Qatar and Kuwait. Looking at Igor Stimac’s record versus the Lions of Khorasan, the head coach should be able to navigate the challenges Ashley Westwood’s team might pose.

Igor Stimac has come up against Afghanistan thrice and is yet to concede a defeat, winning one and drawing two contests. Here is a brief look at the past results:

Record

Total Matches Played – 3

Won – 1

Draws – 2

Loss – 0

Match 1: Afghanistan 1 – 1 India (14 November 2019)

Afghanistan held India to a 1-1 draw in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier contest 2019. The Group E fixture saw Zelfagar Nazary give his team the lead but Seiminlen Doungel’s injury-time equaliser saved the Indian side from an embarrassing defeat.

Match 2: India 1 – 1 Afghanistan (15 June 2021)

In the second leg of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier (second round) fixture, India and Afghanistan shared the spoils after a 1-1 draw. Ovays Azizi scored an own goal to give the Indian team the lead but Hossein Zamani secured a point thanks to a late equaliser.

Match 3: Afghanistan 1 – 2 India  (11 June 2022)

Igor Stimac finally delivered a win against Afghanistan at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers (third round) fixture on 11 June 2022 at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, India. Sunil Chhetri and Sahal Abdul Samad scored for India on an eventful evening. 

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