The Tajikistan national team continues to prepare for the June friendly matches against the Indian team. For our team, these meetings will be of particular importance for several reasons.
Firstly, these are the first games after the successful completion of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifying tournament. Secondly, it is in these matches that the debut of the new head coach of the national team, Igor Angelovski, will take place. And finally, right now a new stage of the team’s preparation for the main tournament of the continent begins.
The 50-year-old specialist from North Macedonia recently took charge of the Tajikistan national team and is already actively getting acquainted with the country’s football. Together with his assistants, he attended several matches of the Tajikistan championship, held meetings with club representatives and began to form his own idea of the players’ capabilities.
A special event will be the return of the team to Tursunzade. Fans of this city have not seen matches of the national team for many years. The last time the Tajikistan team played here was back in 2011, when they met with the Uzbekistan team. Therefore, the upcoming match aroused great interest among local football fans.
For Igor Angelovski, the June meetings will be the first serious test in his new post. The Macedonian specialist received the task of preparing the Tajikistan national team for the final part of the 2027 Asian Cup, which will be held in Saudi Arabia from January 7 to February 5 next year.
After the draw for the continental championship, it became known that the Tajikistan team will play in Group D along with the teams of Australia, Iraq and Singapore. The first two opponents have already secured participation in the 2026 World Championship, which indicates their high level.
Angelovski himself noted that now the main task is to carefully study future opponents and prepare well for the tournament.
“Australia and Iraq will play at the World Cup and this is a sign of their strength. But we must first of all believe in our own capabilities and use the maximum of our resources in every match,” the coach emphasized.
26 players have been called up to the June training camp. The roster included players from the championships of Russia, Iran, Uzbekistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Bulgaria, Iraq and Tajikistan. This shows that the core of the team is still made up of players who play both abroad and in leading clubs in the country.
The team leader remains Rostov goalkeeper Rustam Yatimov. Also at the coaching staff’s disposal are Vahdat Khanonov, Zoir Juraboev, Ekhsoni Panjshanbe, Shervoni Mabatshoev, Alisher Jalilov, Parviz Umarboev, Shakhrom Samiev and the hero of the match with the Philippines, Sheriddin Boboev.
At the same time, several important players will miss the training camp due to injuries. This list includes goalkeeper Oleg Baklov, defender Manuchehr Safarov, midfielder Amadoni Kamolov and striker Rustam Soirov.
Today, the Tajikistan national team ranks 103rd in the FIFA rankings. India is in 136th position. However, for the coaching staff, the result of the June matches will be important not only from the point of view of victory.
It is much more important to understand the team’s potential and lay the foundation for performance at the 2027 Asian Cup, where Tajikistan will have to prove again that success at the previous continental championship was not an accident.
The composition of the Tajikistan national team for friendly matches against the Indian national team (June 5 and 9):
Goalkeepers: Rustam Yatimov (Rostov, Russia), Mukhriddin Khasanov (Istiklol), Daler Azizov (Khosilot);
Defenders: Zoir Juraboev (“Sogdiana”, Uzbekistan), Vahdat Khanonov (“Sepahan”, Iran), Rakhmatsho Rakhmatzoda (“PSIM Yogikarta”, Indonesia), Akhtam Nazarov (“Vakhsh”), Tabrez Islomov, Alijon Karomatullozoda, Sodikjon Kurbonov (all “Istiklol”), Mehrubon Karimov (“Ravshan”), Furkon Rahimzoda (“Khosilot”), Abdullo Sharipov (“Regar-TadAZ”);
Midfielders: Parviz Umarboev (Lokomotiv, Bulgaria), Ekhsoni Panjshanbe, Shervoni Mabatshoev (both Terengganu, Malaysia), Alisher Shukurov (Kyzylkum, Uzbekistan), Alisher Jalilov, Amirbek Juraboev, Muhammadjon Rakhimov (all Istiklol), Salokhiddin Irgashev (“Khosilot”), Jamshed Maksumov (“Ravshan”);
Forwards: Shahrom Samiev (Al-Karma, Iraq), Sheriddin Boboev (PSM Makassar, Indonesia), Daler Sharipov (Istiklol), Faridun Davlatov (Regar-TadAZ).
