The Indian Super League team East Bengal, together with Nejmeh SC (Lebanon), Bashundhara Kings (Bangladesh), and Paro FC (Bhutan), has been drawn into Group A of the AFC Challenge League.
The Indian Super League team East Bengal, together with Nejmeh SC (Lebanon), Bashundhara Kings (Bangladesh), and Paro FC (Bhutan), has been drawn into Group A of the AFC Challenge League. The Group A matches will be place in Thimphu at Changlimithang Stadium. The Red and Gold Brigade’s victory in the Kalinga Super Cup this year earned them a spot in the competition. East Bengal was demoted to the AFC Challenge League after losing 0–2 against Altyn Asyr FC (Turkmenistan) in the AFC Champions League Two qualifying round earlier this month.
Nejmeh SC is the Lebanese Premier League champion and EBFC’s opponent. Remarkably, in the 2010 AFC Cup group stage, the previous team lost both legs 0-3 and 0-4.
The winners of the Bangladesh Premier League are Bashundhara Kings, and the Bhutan Premier League is Paro FC.
There will be five groups competing in the competition. The West Region will consist of three groups, each with four teams, while the East Region will feature two groups, each with three sides.
Eight teams will advance from the group stage: the top two finishers from the two East groups, the best-ranked runner-up from the West, and the three group champions.
The double-legged quarter-finals will happen between March 5-13, followed by the semi-finals from April 9-17 whereas the final takes place on May 10.
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