India Beat Oman on Penalties, Secure Third Place in CAFA Nations Cup

India scripted history in their debut outing at the CAFA Nations Cup, finishing third after defeating higher-ranked Oman 3-2 on penalties at the Hisor Central Stadium on Monday. The win also marked India’s first-ever victory against the West Asian side.

The tightly contested match ended 1-1 after extra time, forcing a penalty shootout. Oman took the lead in the 55th minute through Jameel Al Yahmadi, but India struck back when Udanta Singh Kumam equalised in the 80th minute.

Despite Oman being reduced to 10 men after defender Ali Al Busaidi was sent off in the 96th minute, the extra 30 minutes produced no further goals. The match was eventually decided on penalties, where India held their nerve to claim a memorable win.

The third-place finish capped a promising debut for India in the CAFA Nations Cup, adding a significant milestone to their international football journey.