In the opening match of the Intercontinental Cup on Tuesday, the Indian football team, under new head coach Manolo Marquez, played to a goalless draw against lower-ranked Mauritius. Despite their early possession and efforts, India, currently ranked 124th by FIFA, couldn’t break through the defense of 174th-ranked Mauritius at the GMC Balayogi Athletic Stadium.
Mauritius, with their aggressive style of play, appeared more threatening and created numerous opportunities. India’s defense faced an early test in the eighth minute when Mauritius’ Jeremy Villeneuve won a set-piece and sent the ball into the box, but Jeakson Singh managed to clear it. Jay Shah also made a crucial clearance shortly after.
Manvir Singh had a significant chance in the 34th minute when he received a pass from Anirudh Thapa and took a shot with his left foot, only to be denied by Mauritius goalkeeper Kevin Obrian. Lallianzuala Chhangte delivered a fine cross from the right wing, but Thapa’s header missed the mark.
Mauritius nearly scored a spectacular goal, but their shot narrowly missed the target. In the second half, India showed more urgency, with Chhangte making runs down the right flank and sending the ball into the visitors’ box, but Obrian was alert and thwarted the attempt. Sahal Abdul Samad, who replaced Thapa, also made efforts down the flank but was stopped by the Mauritius defense.
Both teams created occasional chances but lacked the finishing touch, with Mauritius often appearing the stronger team on the field. The match ended in a stalemate, leaving Indian fans disappointed as the team continues to rebuild after failing to reach the third round of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.
