Jhingan under medical care in Goa after suffering cheekbone fracture in CAFA Nations Cup

Defender Sandesh Jhingan, who was forced to return home midway through the CAFA Nations Cup after suffering a cheekbone fracture during India’s match against Iran, is currently under “expert medical care” in Goa, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and FC Goa said in a joint statement on Friday.

On Wednesday, the AIFF said that the 32-year-old was ruled out of the rest of the tournament after sustaining the injury during the 0-3 loss to Iran on September 1.

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“AIFF and FC Goa remain fully aligned in ensuring Sandesh receives the best treatment and every support required during this period,” the statement said.

“The AIFF reaffirms its commitment to always stand by players and clubs whenever injuries occur on national duty, extending complete care and assistance,” it added.

The tournament is newly-appointed head coach Khalid Jamil’s first assignment, and Jhingan was a crucial part of the setup, scoring the winning goal against Tajikistan in the opener.

However, despite the blow, India qualified for the third-place playoff match after being held to a stalemate by Afghanistan in its last Group B encounter. The Blue Tigers had to wait for the second match of the day between Iran and Tajikistan, which ended in a 2-2 draw, to learn their fate.

Jamil’s men finished the group in second place with four points (a win, a loss, and a draw), while Iran topped Group B with seven points from three matches each.