New coach to begin India tenure at CAFA Nations Cup
India are clubbed with Tajikistan, Iran and Afghanistan in Group B, and are scheduled to begin their campaign against hosts Tajikistan in Dushanbe on August 29.
India's search for a new coach is on but his first assignment has been fixed with the team competing in the Central Association Football Association Nations Cup that begins on August 29.
The All India Football Federation will pick one among Khalid Jamil, Stephen Constantine or Stefan Tarkovic on Friday to succeed the departed Manolo Marquez.
The AIFF's technical committee had trimmed possible candidates to these three among 163 applicants and its executive committee members will meet in a virtual meeting to decide on the most suitable candidate.
But before that, the AIFF has accepted an invitation to play in the tournament for the first meeting after Malaysia pulled out.
India are clubbed with Tajikistan, Iran and Afghanistan in Group B, and are scheduled to begin their campaign against hosts Tajikistan in Dushanbe on August 29.
Their next game is against Iran on September 1 followed by Afghanistan on Sept 4. Uzbekistan, Kyrgyz Republic, Turkmenistan and Oman are clubbed in Group A, whose matches will be held in Tashkent.
The AIFF views this tournament as part of preparation for India's AFC Asian Cup qualifiers in October.
The draw:
Group A (Tashkent): Uzbekistan (H), Kyrgyz Republic, Turkmenistan, Oman, Group B (Dushanbe): Tajikistan (H), IR Iran, Afghanistan, India
India’s fixtures: Aug 29: vs Tajikistan; Sep 1: vs IR Iran; Sep 4: vs Afghanistan.