Indian women's football team set for games with UAE, Tunisia, Bahrain

After setting up camp in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, for around a month, the Indian women's football team will travel abroad on an exposure tour to prepare for the AFC Women's Asian Cup, which is set to take place in India next year.

Earlier, head coach Thomas Dennerby had stressed the importance of playing competitive matches preparing for the continental tournament. The women's team is set to leave for UAE on September 30. As per the All India Football Federation press release, they will play two friendlies against the United Arab Emirates and Tunisia. After the two friendlies in the UAE, the team will travel to Bahrain to play two more friendlies against Bahrain and Chinese Taipei. That is likely to be followed by a brief stint in Sweden, where they are set to face two Damallsvenskan league teams, subject to permission to Indian citizens arriving in Sweden from relevant authorities.

"Besides the four matches against UAE, Tunisia, Chinese Taipei and Bahrain, we also have two confirmed matches against two Swedish premier league teams. We are in the process of sorting out the travel protocol to the country as the entry of Indian citizens to Sweden is still not open yet," head coach Thomas Dennerby stated.

"I appreciate the efforts of the AIFF in finding us teams willing to play matches against us under such circumstances," he added.

The head coach had already spoken about the importance of playing quality matches to get the girls match fit ahead of the big tournament. He believes that the friendlies in UAE and Bahrain will help the team assess itself.

(ANI)