Fellow ISL side Odisha FC, Bangladesh Premier League winners Basundhara Kings and Maldives league champions Maziya will be the opposition for Mohun Bagan in the South Zone group of the 2023/24 AFC Cup group stage. The Green and Maroons beat Machhindra FC from Nepal and Bangladesh’s Abhani Dhaka in the preliminary qualifiers to make it to the competition proper. With familiar opposition to face, the Kolkata giants will aim for the top spot that will give them the ticket to the inter-zonal semi-final playoffs.
History
Mohun Bagan are participating in the AFC Cup for the seventh time. Their last campaign ended in a 3-1 defeat to Kuala Lumpur City in the inter-zonal semifinal playoffs. The Mariners were obviously winners of their group containing Maziya and Basundhara Kings back then as well with Gokulam Kerala being the other team. After losing the first group match from the club also from India, Mohun Bagan registered a 4-0 win over the Kings and a 5-2 thrashing of the Maldivians to top the standings. Goal difference came into factor after they finished with the same points as the Bangladeshi champions.
Qualification for AFC Cup 2023/24
Beating Bengaluru FC 4-3 on penalties in April, Mohun Bagan crowned themselves ISL Champions for the first time and entered into the AFC Cup qualifying playoff against previous winners Hyderabad FC. They won that battle through penalties again with the score tied 1-1 after extra-time to qualify for the preliminary round of the AFC Cup. Getting past Machhindra FC and Abhani Dhaka, both with 3-1 victories, the Mariners qualified for the group stages of the competition. New signings Jason Cummings and Anwar Ali scored two goals each in the qualifiers.
Preparation for AFC Cup 2023/24
Mohun Bagan made a series of high-profile signings this transfer window both in terms of Indian footballers playing in the national team and foreign recruits. The target is winning the AFC Cup this time after failing at the inter-zonal semifinal playoffs in the last couple of seasons. This is certainly an ambitious move for the club to do something that no other clubs from the country have managed so far. Big money moves like Sahal Abdul Samad from Kerala Blasters and Anirudh Thapa from Chennaiyin FC with Anwar Ali joining on loan from Delhi FC have spiced up things. The addition of A-league star and World Cupper Jason Cummings with Albania’s joint active top goal-scorer Armando Sadiku has taken the firepower to a new level. Hector Yuste is another top addition to the squad capable of playing in defence and in midfield. ISL-winning coach Juan Ferrando has also extended his contract with the club.
Group D
Odisha FC (India)
Basundhara Kings (Bangladesh)
Maziya Sports & Recreation (Maldives)
Mohun Bagan Super Giants (India)
Fixtures
19 September 2023
Odisha FC vs Mohun Bagan (19:30)
2 October 2023
Mohun Bagan vs Maziya (19:30)
24 October 2023
Mohun Bagan vs Basundhara Kings (17:30)
7 November 2023
Basundhara Kings vs Mohun Bagan (20:00)
27 November 2023
Mohun Bagan vs Odisha FC (19:30)
11 December 2023
Maziya vs Mohun Bagan (19:30)
For the first time, the AFC Cup will be played in a two-year schedule from autumn to spring. Mohun Bagan will begin their journey with an away match against Odisha FC on 19th September 2023. Their first home game against Maziya is in October. The third match against Basundhara Kings is in discussion for rescheduling for security reasons. The date clashes with Durga Puja in Kolkata and India's Men's ODI World Cup match in Eden Gardens.
Note: All timings are in Indian Standard Time (IST)
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