Zimbabwe coach Dave Houghton wasn't pleased with his side's start to the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Qualifier Africa Final 2023 as he labelled the performance against Namibia "awful" and "embarrassing".
Mustafa Meshaal (4'), Almoez Ali (47') and Yusuf Abdurisag (86') registered their names on the scoresheet for Qatar. India had a solid phase near the end of the first half but overall they were no match for the quality offered by Asian champions Qatar.
Qatar, ranked 61st in the FIFA rankings, boasts quality in their squad and holds the top spot in Group A. Tuesday's match promises to be a tough battle as the Blue Tigers aim to deliver their best performance at home and potentially upset one of Asia's football powerhouses.
The Blue Tigers played two fiercely contested matches against the same opponents in the SAFF Championship earlier this year, both ending in draws after regulation time, as the former went on to be crowned champions after defeating Kuwait on penalties in the final. While the World Cup Qualifi
India's next clash is against World number 61 Qatar on November 21 in their second group A match. Group A also features Afghanistan. These four teams will play each other in home-aeay round-robin format.
The 39-year-old has helped Indian football gain recognition worldwide and helped the 'Blue Tigers' win matches in many games. The Indian skipper's contribution to Indian football have helped India climb up in the FIFA rankings and bag multiple trophies.
While World Cup qualification remains a distant goal, the performances of the Indian Football Team consistently ignite hopes for a brighter future. With that in mind, let us take a look at some of India's best results in the World Cup qualifiers.
India was placed 124 in the FIFA Rankings. UAE, coached by Frenchman Henri Michel, were way up at 64th. India has not beaten a side ranked higher than that since. Michel had led France to third place at the World Cup in 1986 and Olympic gold in 1984 but was left scratching his head on the Ka
In the World Cup 2026 qualifiers round, India have drawn alongside Qatar, Kuwait, and Afghanistan. The 'Blue Tigers' need to secure a top-two spot to advance to the next round.
The Argentinian sensation Lionel Messi has been called to represent the National side for the FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifying matches which are set to be played this month.