India Target Record 10th SAFF Championship Title Despite Missing Key Players

NEW DELHI, Nov. 3: Defending champions India are preparing for another title challenge at the 2026 South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship, with head coach Naushad Moosa expressing confidence in his squad despite the absence of several established players.

The 15th edition of the regional football tournament will be held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from November 5 to 17, with six national teams competing for the championship. India will begin their campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan on November 5, in a fixture expected to attract considerable attention from football supporters across the region.

India enter the competition as defending champions after winning the previous edition in 2023. The team will now attempt to secure a record-extending 10th title, further strengthening its position as the most successful side in the tournament’s history.

However, the circumstances surrounding this year’s campaign are considerably different from the previous championship. India will compete with a relatively young squad led by Moosa, who also coaches the country’s Under-23 men’s team.

The decision to field a younger group comes amid difficulties in securing the release of several players representing Indian Super League clubs. As a result, the coaching staff will have to work with a combination of emerging footballers and a limited number of senior internationals.

India arrived in Dhaka on Tuesday with 19 players and five members of the coaching staff ahead of the competition. The remaining squad members are expected to join the team in the coming days.

Speaking about India’s prospects, Moosa acknowledged that Bangladesh currently possess one of the strongest squads in the tournament. The hosts have strengthened their team with several overseas-based players and are expected to enjoy considerable support from home supporters.

Moosa nevertheless made it clear that India’s objective remains unchanged.

He said the team always enters the SAFF Championship with the intention of winning the competition while also seeking to display attractive and competitive football.

The Indian coach described Bangladesh as the strongest side in the tournament at present and expressed hope that the two teams would eventually meet in the final.

His assessment reflects the growing competition in South Asian football, where Bangladesh have been making efforts to improve their squad strength and international competitiveness.

The tournament will provide India with an opportunity to evaluate younger players under competitive conditions while maintaining the expectations associated with being defending champions.

India have been placed in Group B alongside Pakistan and the Maldives. Their opening encounter against Pakistan will be followed by a match against the Maldives on November 11.

Group A comprises hosts Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals scheduled for November 14, while the final will take place on November 17.

All matches will be played at the National Stadium in Dhaka.

The opening fixture against Pakistan will be particularly significant for India. Encounters between the neighbouring countries traditionally carry considerable importance, and both sides will be eager to begin their campaigns with a positive result.

India’s coaching staff will have limited time to settle the team’s combinations and ensure that the players are comfortable with their respective responsibilities.

The squad includes a mixture of young prospects and experienced players who could provide leadership on the field. Farukh Choudhary, Liston Colaco and Suresh Singh Wangjam are among the senior names expected to contribute experience, while several younger players will be looking to establish themselves at the international level.

The attacking department will also have options in Irfan Yadwad, Muhammad Suhail, Vishnu PV and Suhail Ahmad Bhat. Their ability to convert opportunities into goals could prove decisive in a competition where the margins between teams are often narrow.

In midfield, the presence of players such as Ricky John Shabong, Nikhil Prabhu and Abhishek Suryavanshi could provide the team with different combinations in terms of creativity, ball retention and defensive support.

The defensive unit will be expected to maintain discipline, particularly against opponents capable of exploiting spaces during counterattacks. The goalkeeping department will also have an important responsibility in ensuring consistency throughout the tournament.

Bibiano Fernandes, who has previously worked with India’s younger age group teams, will serve as assistant coach. His involvement is expected to complement Moosa’s preparations and help the squad manage the demands of the competition.

The Indian team management has also had to navigate scheduling challenges because of the national team’s other international commitments. The SAFF Championship fixtures overlap with India’s scheduled friendlies against Auckland and Christchurch on November 12 and 15.

The All India Football Federation has had to coordinate player availability with clubs to ensure that the country can participate in the regional tournament with a competitive squad.

The AIFF acknowledged the cooperation extended by clubs in releasing their players for national duty. Deputy Secretary General M Satyanarayan thanked the clubs for supporting the team’s participation in the championship.

India’s participation will be important not only because of their status as defending champions but also because the tournament provides a platform for young footballers to gain valuable international experience.

For several members of the squad, the competition represents an opportunity to demonstrate their ability to perform under pressure and potentially strengthen their claims for future selection in the senior national team.

The challenge will be to maintain the standards expected from India despite the absence of several regular first-team players.

Bangladesh, meanwhile, will have the advantage of playing in front of their home supporters. Their improved squad strength has made them serious contenders, and Moosa’s assessment suggests that India are aware of the challenge awaiting them.

The Maldives, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bhutan will also be looking to make an impact, ensuring that the competition is not limited to the traditional favourites.

India’s previous triumph in 2023 came after defeating Kuwait in the final in Bengaluru. That victory strengthened the team’s reputation in the regional competition and raised expectations ahead of the latest edition.

The upcoming championship will test whether the younger generation can maintain that winning tradition.

India’s immediate priority will be to secure a strong start against Pakistan before turning their attention to the Maldives. A positive result in the group stage would improve their chances of progressing to the knockout rounds and defending their crown.

The semi-finals on November 14 are expected to bring together the strongest sides from both groups, with the finalists scheduled to compete three days later.

For Moosa, the assignment is an important opportunity to demonstrate the depth of Indian football and the progress being made among younger players.

Although Bangladesh may enter the competition with a stronger looking squad, India remain determined to compete for the trophy.

The defending champions will therefore travel into the tournament with two clear objectives: retain their regional supremacy and provide valuable exposure to the next generation of Indian footballers.

Whether the relatively inexperienced squad can overcome the challenges posed by their regional rivals will become clearer when the competition begins in Dhaka on Thursday.