Sunil Chhetri left out as AIFF names 22 for CAFA Nations Cup camp

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) raised eyebrows on Friday after announcing that 13 players from four clubs had not reported for the CAFA Nations Cup preparatory camp in Bengaluru. The absentees were linked to the ongoing Durand Cup knockouts, with Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, Jamshedpur FC, and NorthEast United yet to release their players.

Newly-appointed head coach Khalid Jamil had named 35 probables for the camp, but only 22 players reported on the opening day. Missing from both lists was Sunil Chhetri, India’s all-time leading scorer and most capped footballer.

Chhetri, who turned 41 earlier this month, was coaxed out of international retirement by former coach Manolo Márquez earlier this year, but Jamil appears to be moving forward without the Bengaluru FC striker. Also excluded were senior names such as Subhashish Bose, Ashish Rai, and Brandon Fernandes.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu has returned to the squad after being dropped by Márquez. Jamil’s list included some surprise call-ups, including uncapped players Albino Gomes and Manvir Singh (both Jamshedpur FC), Hyderabad FC defender Alex Saji, and the biggest shock—Sunil Benchamin, a left-back from Army Red, currently on an amateur contract. Benchamin was playing in India’s third tier last season with Diamond Harbour.

India will face Tajikistan (Aug 29), Iran (Sept 1), and Afghanistan (Sept 4) in the CAFA Nations Cup 2025, Jamil’s first assignment as national coach.

The AIFF expressed appreciation to Jamshedpur FC for releasing Jamil mid-season and urged other clubs to cooperate. However, officials admitted clubs are not obligated to release players until 48 hours before the FIFA window (Sept 1–9). With the Durand Cup final on Aug 23, most clubs are unlikely to release their players earlier.

Adding to the shortage, 10 U-23 players from Mohun Bagan, Jamshedpur, and NorthEast United also skipped the senior camp, as they prepare separately under Naushad Moosa for the AFC U-23 Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers.

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