Bangladesh Premier League champions Bashundhara Kings have been drawn in Group D alongside India’s Odisha, Mohun Bagan and the Maldives’ Maziya as the AFC Cup’s draw ceremony was held at the Asian Football Confederation House in Kuala Lumpur Thursday.
The Kings will have to be content fighting it out in the AFC Cup after losing the AFC Champions League preliminary round match away to Sharjah on August 15.
Another BPL powerhouse Abahani Limited meanwhile, missed out on the AFC Cup group stage after conceding defeat away to Mohun Bagan in the playoff Tuesday.
The draw ceremony of AFC’s flagship club competition, the AFC Champions League, also took place in the Malaysian capital on the same day as Neymar’s Al Hilal, also comprising the likes of Kalidou Koulibaly, Ruben Neves, Yassine Bounou, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, were pitted against Mumbai City in Group D.
The 21st edition of the AFC Champions League and 19th instalment of the AFC Cup will run from September 2023 to May 2024.
AFC Champions League draw
Group A: Pakhator, Al Fayha, Ahal, Al Ain
Group B: Al Sadd, Nassaf, Al Faisaly, Sharjah
Group C: Al Ittihad, Sepahan, Air Force Club, AGMK
Group D: Al Hilal, Nassaji, Mumbai City, Navbahor
Group E: Persepolis, Al Duhail, Istiklol, Al Nassr
Group F: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Bangkok United, Lion City Sailors, Kitchee
Group G: Yokohama F. Marinos, Shandong Taishan, Kaya Iloilo, Incheon United
Group H: Buriham United, Ventforet Kofu, Melbourne City, Zheijiang
Group I: Ulsan Hyundai, Kawasaki Frontale, Johor Darul Ta’zim, BG Pathum United
Group J: Wuhan Three Towers, Pohang Steelers, Hanoi, Urawa Red Diamonds
AFC Cup draw
Group A: Al Ahed, Al Futuwa, Jabal Al Mukaber Club, Al Nahda
Group B: Al Wehdat, Kuwait SC, Al Kahrbaa SC, Al Ittihad Al-Ahli of Aleppo
Group C: Al Zawraa, Al Riffa, Nejmeh SC, Al Arabi
Group D: Odisha, Bashundhara Kings, Maziya Sports & Recreation Club, Mohun Bagan Super Giant
Group E: Ravshan, Altyn Asyr, Abdysh-Ata, Merw
Group F: Dynamic Herb Cebu, Macarthur, Shan United, Phnom Penh Crown
Group G: Terengganu, Bali United, Stallion Laguna, Central Coast Mariners
Group H: Haiphong, Hougang United, Sabah, PSM Makassar
Group I: CPK, Tainan City, Ulaanbaatar, Taichung Futuro