September 2, 2025

Hold on tight, football fans! The India U23 men’s national team, also known as the Blue Colts, is gearing up for some action-packed football in the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers. The fiery head coach, Naushad Moosa, has picked a strong 23-member squad to battle it out in Doha, Qatar. India is placed in Group H, facing tough rivals Bahrain on September 3, the hosts Qatar on September 6, and Brunei Darussalam on September 9. The competition is fierce because only the group winners and four best second-placed teams from all 11 groups will qualify for the big event — the AFC U23 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026. Naushad Moosa shared some sizzling insights ahead of the matches. “The key is to take it one match at a time. The first game (against Bahrain) will be very important because it will help us understand where we currently stand. Getting those three points will be crucial,” he said in a statement to the-aiff.com. He added, “We must play good football, that’s the key. If we play well, the results will follow. Another focus will be to avoid conceding goals and stay focused.” Wise words from the coach! Staying sharp and defending well will be the team's armor. Before landing in Doha, the Blue Colts had a warm-up challenge: two tough closed-door friendlies against Iraq U23s in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Though they lost both matches (1-2 and 1-3), Moosa remains optimistic. “Playing against Iraq was the best thing to happen for the team. They are one of the top sides, and the way we played - even though we lost - was quite encouraging. The important thing is that the boys showed character and have gained a lot of belief in their abilities,” he noted. The team touched down in Doha on August 30 and jumped straight into their first training session that evening, ready to give their best. Here’s the 23-member Indian squad to watch out for: Goalkeepers: Sahil, Mohd Arbaz, Dipesh Chauhan Defenders: Bikash Yumnam, Pramveer, Muhammed Saheef Areesinte Purakkal, Harsh Arun Palande, Subham Bhattacharya, Ricky Meetei Haobam Midfielders: Soham Naveen Varshneya, Lalrinliana Hnamte, Mohammed Aimen, Vibin Mohanan, Mohammed Sanan K, Chingangbam Shivaldo Singh, Ayush Dev Chhetri, Macarton Louis Nickson, Lalremtluanga Fanai, Vinith Venkatesh Forwards: Parthib Sundar Gogoi, Muhammed Suhail, Sreekuttan MS, Sahil Harijan With Naushad Moosa at the helm, the Blue Colts are all fired up to show dazzling football in Doha. Will they conquer Group H and advance to the grand stage in Saudi Arabia? The countdown has begun!

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Tags: India u23, Afc u23 asian cup, Naushad moosa, Doha, Football qualifiers, Blue colts,