Will test ourselves and see whether we have improved since my inclusion, says Ashley Westwood ahead of India game

Ashley Westwood expressed great praise for the ISL.

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Afghanistan football team is going to face India in their second leg match of round 2 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. The match is going to be held on March 26, 2024 at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Assam. 

In the first leg of the match, Afghanistan secured a draw against India which ended without a single goal from any side. They are now placed at fourth place in the points table which is led by Qatar at first place and India and Kuwait at second and third spot respectively.

Ahead of the upcoming match the Afghanistan coach, Ashley Westwood and captain Haroon Amiri attended the pre-match press conference, addressing inquiries from the media.

About the Indian team 

Undoubtedly Ashley Westwood has known the Indian conditions and most of the players much better than any other Afghanistan player. At first he stated a sentence of praise for the Indian side and the development of football in the country. He said, “We know we are going in for a tough challenge. Everyone knows, India was ranked 102 in the FIFA ranking but now they are at 117, which is higher than us. Their players also have the benefit of playing in ISL.”

“The ISL has gone from strength to strength over the 10-11 years. The players are also very fit and as they train properly and eat correctly so you won’t see too many soft tissue injuries now in India or many players getting cramps”, he added. 

About the game 

Although Afghanistan managed to draw the first game, they must secure a victory to remain in the contest. Coach Westwood alluded to the benefits of drawing the first game and also acknowledged the challenges that lie ahead for the team.

He stated, “We have the benefit of drawing the first game. But tomorrow, a lot will be at stake for both the teams. We are aware of our capabilities and like any other football match, we are just looking forward to the contest where we will test ourselves and see whether we have improved in the game since my inclusion in the team last November.”

Captain Haroon Amiri looked positive with his approach while addressing the media as he stated, “Last game was a good game for us. We gained a point from it. Looking ahead, we are aiming to give our best in the upcoming game against India over here.”

Difficulty of assembling the team and playing in another country

In recent times, Afghanistan has encountered various challenges. Forming a cohesive team and participating in group competitions against teams from other countries is undoubtedly a demanding endeavor.

When a question was raised about it, coach Westwood replied, “Yeah it’s been hard for us. We are reliant on FIFA and other countries for financial help, so we have to plan everything at the last moment. You also have to speak to every player and try to convince them to come back to the team with a promise of certain things. But it’s somewhat part of this job and something we are learning with time.”

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