AIFF announces Indian squad for U20 Mandiri Challenge

The All India Football Federation, on Monday, named a 23-member squad for the upcoming 2025 Mandiri U20 Challenge Series, a four-national friendly tournament.

Biby Thomas Muttath has been appointed as the coach, with Mileswamy Govindaraju Ramachandran as the assistant coach and Dipankar Choudhury as the goalkeeper coach.

The tournament is scheduled to be held in Indonesia from January 24 to 30, 2025.

India will begin the tournament with a match against Syria, followed by Jordan, and Indonesia.  The matches will be played at the Gelora Delta Stadium in Sidoarjo. 

India, who had been camping in Goa, will depart for Sidoarjo on Tuesday, January 21.

After the tournament, the team will have a break before reassembling with more players for a longer camp to continue the preparations for the SAFF U19 Championship.

The same set of players are also expected to make the cut to the Indian team for the SAFF U19 Championship, which will be held from May 8 to 18, 2025.

Indian squad for the Mandri U20 Challenge Series: 

Goalkeepers: Suraj Singh Aheibam, Alsabith Sulaiman Thekkekaramel, and Karan Makkar.

Defenders: Yaipharemba Chingakham, Sumit Sharma Brahmacharimayum, Afinmon Baiju, Mukul Panwar, Malemngamba Singh Thokchom, and Jodric Abranches.

Midfielders: Md. Arbash, Mahmad Sami, Levis Zangminlun, Manbhakupar Malngiang, Ahongshangbam Samson, Ninghthoukhongjam Rishi Singh, Jajo Prashan, Ngamgouhou Mate, Gurnaj Singh Grewal, and Danny Meitei Laishram.

Forwards: Bharat Lairenjam, Lemmet Tangvah, Sujin S, and Mohd. Zulkif.

Head Coach: Biby Thomas Muttath. 

Indian fixtures at Mandri U20 Challenge Series: 

(All timings are in Indian Standard Time, IST)

January 24: India vs Syria, 2:30 PM

January 27: Jordan vs India, 2:30 PM

January 30: Indonesia vs India, 6:00 PM.