What went wrong for India U17 in their AFC Asian Cup 2025 qualifying campaign?

A disappointing end for the Blue Colts as they miss out on the U-17 AFC Asian Cup 2025 qualification.

Indian U-17 football team missed out on a spot in the U-17 AFC Asian Cup 2025 following their recent 3-2 loss against Thailand U-17. 

The loss from the final Blue Colts’ qualifying match raises important questions about what went wrong and the next steps.

Defensive mindset led to India’s downfall

A major factor contributing to India U-17’s failure was coach Ishfaq Ahmed’s conservative style of football. Fielding a young and hungry team on the international stage usually translates to playing an expressive and expansive brand of football. However, despite winning 13-0 in their opening game against Brunei U-17s, Ahmed and his young team just edged home against Turkmenistan in their next game. A game of fine margins witnessed the Blue Colts secure the victory on the stroke of half-time through Rishi Singh’s goal. 

However, the game against Thailand U-17s exposed the risks of conservative football that Ahmed was playing after taking the lead. The reliance on a squad with limited experience and the decision to sit back came back to bite in the end.

India lacked the cutting edge in key moments 

Over the course of the qualifiers, India squandered numerous chances to secure vital points. While the missed opportunities didn’t haunt them in the first two games, the game against a stronger Thailand side made India rue their lack of finishing. 

In critical moments, the inability to be ruthless in applying the finishing touches made it an uphill battle. This missed edge in attack proved costly against a better side and calls in the need for greater focus and composure in crucial moments.

Too much pressure on young shoulders

Two victories in the first two qualifiers made the game against Thailand, a must-win for the Blue Colts. The India U-17s had to either win or draw to remain in contention to qualify for the AFC U-17 Asian Cup. The 2024 U-17 SAFF Championship victory was supposed to reflect the young team’s ability to shine in the big moments. 

However, the result of the Thailand game has ended up posing a big question about the players’ ability to handle pressure. It will be interesting to see how the players and coach bounce back after a disappointing loss with huge consequences.

What’s next after the AFC Asian Cup 2025 disappointment?

The setback from the Thailand game could be a clean slate for growth and improvement for this young team. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) should conduct a thorough evaluation of its current development strategies and make the ideal appointment for the future. 

Calls for investments in better training facilities, higher coaching standards, and more competitive exposure for young players will be echoed and are gonna be the top agenda in the aftermath. Additionally, fostering a supportive environment to bolster mental resilience in tough situations will be essential for future success in big tournaments.

The failure of the India U-17 team to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup 2025 resulted from a calamity of poor decisions. The loss while devastating at first can prove to be the catalyst for bringing seismic changes and help in building a brighter future for Indian football.

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