Odisha FC to represent India in AFC Cup 2023-24, Mohun Bagan SG look to join

On Thursday, August 24, 2023, the official draw for the Group Stage will determine the path to victory at the AFC Cup 2023–24. In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) House, the draw will begin at 2:00 p.m. Mohun Bagan Super Giant will try to join Odisha FC in representing India in the competition.

36 clubs from the five AFC Zones will compete in nine groups for the 19th AFC Cup. It’s scheduled for September 2023 until May 2024.

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In the AFC Cup group stage, Odisha FC will represent India, and Mohun Bagan Super Ginat will try to advance. Odisha FC defeated Gokulam Kerala FC 3-1 in a playoff game to win the Indian Super Cup 2023 on the strength of a hat-trick from Diego Mauricio. It guaranteed a place in the AFC Cup group stage for 2023–24. Gokulam Kerala had earned a spot in the playoffs by virtue of winning the I-League in 2021–22. While Odisha FC was included after winning the 2022–23 Indian Super Cup.

AFC Cup 2023–24 South Asia zone playoff game will feature Bangladeshi team Dhaka Abahani and Mohun Bagan Super Giant. The winner of the game advances to the group stage of the 2023–24 AFC Cup. After winning the Indian Super League 2022–2023, Mohun Bagan SG qualified for the AFC Cup 2023–24. They defeated Hyderabad FC in the subsequent playoff, which they won.Last year, Mohun Bagan SG won their AFC Cup group but lost in the inter-zone semifinals.

Mohun Bagan vs Dhaka Abahani Live Streaming for AFC Cup Qualifiers on Facebook

Joint-record holders for three victories Kuwait SC has the chance to build on its victories from 2009, 2012, and 2013. Al Ahed FC, the first Asian club champion from Lebanon, won the competition in 2019 and could be joined in the draw by Al Ittihad Al-Ahli, the champion from Syria’s Aleppo in 2010. If the latter wins its Playoff (West), that is. Nejmeh SC and Altyn Asyr FC, two recent finalists, are attempting to improve.

If Bahrain’s Al Khaldiya SC win their Playoff (West) tie, this edition will have 13 debutants. The AFC Cup will feature Australian clubs for the first time in its history. The teams Macarthur FC and Central Coast Mariners will represent them.

Following the slot allocations that were determined in June, 29 clubs earned direct qualification to the Group Stage based on the AFC Club Competitions Ranking 2021. They will be joined by seven clubs from the Preliminary and Playoff Stages, which will conclude on August 23.

The 36 participating clubs will be drawn into nine groups of four according to their respective Zones, as below:

• Groups A, B, C: West Zone
• Group D: South Zone
• Groups E: Central Zone
• Groups F, G, H: ASEAN Zone
• Group I: East Zone

Clubs participating in these two Zones will also be placed into four pots for the draw based on the AFC Club Competitions Ranking and their seeding within their respective MAs. There is no need for a draw for the groups in the other three Zones, as the clubs’ allocation will be determined according to the AFC Club Competitions Ranking of their respective MAs.

The full list of pots is as follows:

Club Pots for AFC Cup 2023-24 Group Stage draw

West Zone:

• Pot 1 – Al Wehdat (JOR), Al Zawraa (IRQ), Al Ahed FC (LBN)
• Pot 2 – Kuwait SC (KUW), Al Riffa (BHR), Al Futuwa (SYR)
• Pot 3 – Jabal Al Mukaber Club (PLE), Al Kahrbaa SC (IRQ), Nejmeh SC (LBN)
• Pot 4 – Al Arabi (KUW), Winner of PO1: Al Khaldiya SC (BHR)/Al Nahda (OMA), Winner of PO2: Al Ittihad Al-Ahli of Aleppo (SYR)/Shabab Al Khalil (PLE)

South Zone (no draw ):

Participating Clubs: Odisha FC (IND), Bashundhara Kings (BAN), Maziya Sports & Recreation Club (MDV), Winner of PO: Mohun Bagan Super Giant (IND)/Abahani Limited Dhaka (BAN)

Central Zone (no draw):

Participating Clubs: FC Ravshan (TJK), Altyn Asyr FC (TKM), FC Abdysh-Ata (KGZ), Winner of PO: FC Khujand (TJK)/FC Merw (TKM)

ASEAN Zone:

• Pot 1 – Haiphong FC/Hoang Anh Gia Lai (VIE), Dynamic Herb Cebu FC (PHI), Terengganu FC (MAS)
• Pot 2 – Macarthur FC (AUS), Hougang United (SGP), Bali United (IDN)
• Pot 3 – Shan United FC (MYA), Stallion Laguna FC (PHI), Sabah FC (MAS)
• Pot 4 – Central Coast Mariners (AUS), Winner of PO1: Tampines Rovers FC (SGP)/Phnom Penh Crown FC (CAM), Winner of PO2: PSM Makassar (IDN)/Yangon United (MYA)

East Zone (no draw):

Participating Clubs: CPK (MAC), Tainan City FC (TPE), FC Ulaanbaatar (MNG), Monte Carlo (MAC)/Taichung Futuro FC (TPE)