India to face China test for first time in 21 yrs
India coach Stephen Constantine expressed his excitement about the tie.
New Delhi: India will travel to China for an international friendly in October, the All India Football Federation announced here on Friday.
It will be the first time India will travel to their neighbouring country for an international and has been arranged as part of the team’s preparation for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup, to be held in the United Arab Emirates in January 2019.
The date for the match is yet to be decided but it will be held in the October 8 to 16 Fifa window for playing international friendlies.
The AIFF has proposed October 13 as its preferred match day.
India, ranked 97th, have faced the 75th ranked China 17 times so far — all on home soil — and are yet to win, losing 12 and drawing the rest.
The teams last met 21 years ago in the 1997 Nehru Cup at Kochi.
India coach Stephen Constantine expressed his excitement about the tie.
“With an eye on the preparation for the Asian Cup, as a coach I couldn’t have asked for anything better than an opponent like China,” he said.
“I am sure the boys will make the best of the opportunity presented to us and look forward to test ourselves ahead of the AFC competition,” he added.