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Sandesh Jhingan suffers cheekbone fracture in India’s CAFA Nations Cup clash against Iran, ruled out of tournament as AIFF and FC Goa ensure expert care.
Indian men’s football team star sandesh jhingan (AIFF)
Veteran Indian defender Sandesh Jhingan has officially been diagnosed with a cheekbone fracture, which he sustained during India’s CAFA Nations Cup 2025 clash against Iran, and has been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) and FC Goa confirmed the news in a joint statement, revealing that the 31-year-old is now under “expert medical care” in Goa and has been withdrawn from the rest of the tournament.
Despite the injury, Jhingan showed remarkable resilience. He suffered the fracture early in the match against Iran but continued to play almost the entire game as India fell 0-3.
New Indian head coach Khalid Jamil also praised Jhingan’s courage, stating, “I’ve never seen a player as brave as Sandesh. Even with the injury, he kept playing in the last match. Not many players can do that.”
The setback came just days after he had been named Player of the Match in India’s opening 2-1 win over Tajikistan, underlining his importance at both ends of the pitch.
Both the AIFF and FC Goa reassured fans that every measure is being taken to aid his recovery:
“AIFF and FC Goa remain fully aligned in ensuring Sandesh receives the best treatment and every support required during this period,” the statement said.
Medical Updates and Recovery Plan
The AIFF confirmed on Wednesday that Jhingan would miss the remainder of the Nations Cup. His recovery plan will involve a structured rehabilitation programme, with weekly assessments to monitor bone healing.
While he may return to light individual drills to maintain fitness, Jhingan will only rejoin contact training once cleared by medical specialists. Protective facial gear is also being considered to facilitate an earlier comeback.
This raises doubts about his availability for India’s crucial AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers against Singapore on October 9 and 14.
India Progresses to Third-Place Playoff
Despite the setback, India advanced to the third-place match of the CAFA Nations Cup on the basis of head-to-head record.
India drew 0-0 with Afghanistan earlier on Thursday.
Later in the day, co-hosts Tajikistan and Iran played out a 2-2 draw, leaving India and Tajikistan level on four points.
Having beaten Tajikistan in their opener, India took second place in Group B.
Khalid Jamil’s men will now face the third-place playoff on September 8, with their opponents to be decided after the conclusion of Group A matches in Tashkent.
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term…Read More
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term… Read More
September 05, 2025, 10:41 is
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