Football
India U17’s UAE Friendlies: A 0-0 Draw, Then a 4-1 Win
Football · India U17 men · AFC U17 Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers · Series review
India U17’s UAE Friendlies: A 0-0 Draw, Then a 4-1 Win
India’s under-17 men drew 0-0 and then won 4-1 against UAE in Ras Al Khaimah. The qualifiers in Malaysia start on 11 November.
Ras Al Khaimah, 1 and 4 November.
India U17 men drew 0-0 with UAE on 1 November and won the second friendly 4-1 on 4 November, both in Ras Al Khaimah. India led 2-0 at half-time in the second game, with Kamgouhao Doungel and Md Sahir Ali scoring before the break and Hrishikesh Manavathi and Ristik Maity after it. The team now heads to Malaysia for the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers.
The series at a glance
India’s under-17 men played UAE twice in four days in Ras Al Khaimah, as preparation for the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers. They drew the first game 0-0 and won the second 4-1. Across the two matches India scored four and conceded one.
| Game | Date | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| First friendly | Sunday 1 November | Emirates Football Club Stadium | 0-0 |
| Second friendly | Wednesday 4 November | Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Stadium | India 4-1 UAE |
First friendly: a goalless draw
The two sides drew 0-0 at the Emirates Football Club Stadium on Sunday 1 November. The AIFF report on the game gave no lineups, chances or coach comments, so all we can say is that neither team scored.
It was India’s first match of the trip, and the clean sheet is worth noting given what followed.
Second friendly: India win 4-1
India led 2-0 at half-time at the Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Stadium on Wednesday 4 November and added two more goals in the second half. UAE scored once.
Kamgouhao Doungel and Md Sahir Ali scored in the first half. Hrishikesh Manavathi and Ristik Maity scored in the second. The AIFF report did not give goal minutes or name the UAE scorer.
| Half | India scorer |
|---|---|
| First half | Kamgouhao Doungel |
| First half | Md Sahir Ali |
| Second half | Hrishikesh Manavathi |
| Second half | Ristik Maity |
What the two games tell us
The numbers across the series are simple: one draw, one win, four goals for and one against. The goals in the second game came from four different forwards, and all four are in the squad for the qualifiers. UAE scored once in the two games.
The reports we have do not include lineups, minutes or coach comments for either game, so we will not claim more than the results and scorers.
Squad review: the goals came from the forwards
Head coach Mehrajuddin Wadoo has named a 23-player squad for the qualifiers. All four scorers in the second friendly are among the six forwards in it, and the other two forwards are Raj Singh Wahengbam and Felix Meitei Saikhom.
| Position | No. | Players |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | 3 | Arnav Pandhare, Maroof Shafi, Newtan Irengbam |
| Defenders | 8 | Jinesh Thoudam, Lawmsangzuala, Leo Thongbam, Malem Laishram, Malsawmtluanga, Sailex Oinam, Maldino Singh Yumnam, Zoramdinthara |
| Midfielders | 6 | Dallalmuon Gangte, Henthoiba Keisam, David Mangang Irom, Mukundo Singh Ningthoujam, R Lawmsangzuala, Thiyam Sambay |
| Forwards | 6 | Hrishikesh Charan Manavathi, Kamgouhao Doungel, Md Sahir Ali, Raj Singh Wahengbam, Ristik Maity, Felix Meitei Saikhom |
The announcement did not list clubs or academies, so we have not included them.
What comes next: the qualifiers in Malaysia
The team travels to Kuala Lumpur on 5 November for the AFC U17 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2027 Qualifiers. India are in Group E with hosts Malaysia, Palestine, Singapore and Guam. Only the group winners reach the finals, which are due in Uzbekistan from 12 to 29 May 2027.
| Date | Match | Kick-off |
|---|---|---|
| 11 November | Singapore v India | 18:30 |
| 14 November | India v Guam | 13:00 |
| 17 November | Palestine v India | 13:00 |
| 20 November | India v Malaysia | 18:30 |
With only the winner going through, the first game against Singapore and the last against the hosts are the ones to watch.
