We gave our 100 per cent in every match, asserts Jeje Lalpekhlua

The Indian football team suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat in their final group encounter against Bahrain which ultimately knocked them out of the ongoing 2019 AFC Asian Cup a couple of weeks ago. The Blue Tigers got off to a promising start in the tournament beating Thailand by a scoreline of 4-1 before suffering back-to-back losses against UAE and Bahrain.

“It was a very difficult match against Bahrain and it was unfortunate the way we lost. However, that is life in football, and the important part is the experience earned by the young players that will give dividends in future,” Jeje was quoted as saying by the official website of All India Football Federation.

“Our biggest achievement was the win against Thailand. But we have to make Asian Cup qualification a regular feature. Now we need to focus to do well in World Cup Qualifiers, followed by yet again qualifying for the Asian Cup [for 2023].

“The sleeping giant is now awake. We have shown to all in Asia that we belong on the same page as them,” Lalpekhlua said. “Our performance in the Asian Cup has improved tenfold, and it can only get better from here as young players have been given the needed experience. Indian football can go only upwards from here towards a brighter future,” Jeje concluded.