Mohun Bagan Super Giant Set for AFC Champions League Two Challenge

Mohun Bagan Super Giant's AFC Champions League Journey Begins

The Mohun Bagan Super Giant, the current champions of the Indian Super League (ISL), are gearing up for their participation in the AFC Champions League Two for the 2025-26 season. The group stage matchups were revealed during a draw at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.

Placed in Group C, the two-time ISL Shield and Cup victors will compete against Sepahan SC from Iran, Jordan's Al Hussein SC, and Ahal FC from Turkmenistan.

Securing their position in the tournament by winning the ISL Shield, Mohun Bagan made history by achieving consecutive Shield victories. Last season, they showcased their prowess by accumulating an impressive 56 points across 24 matches, highlighting their dominance in the league. This season, the Kolkata club aims to assert their presence on the continental stage.

In contrast, fellow ISL team FC Goa has been placed in Group D, where they will face formidable opponents including Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr, Iraq's Al Zawraa SC, and FC Istiklol from Tajikistan.

Now, let's delve into the details of Mohun Bagan Super Giant's group stage adversaries.

The first opponent is Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan SC, a prominent Iranian club with a rich history, having won the Persian Gulf Pro League five times and finishing as runners-up on five occasions. They have also claimed the Hazfi Cup five times and the Iranian Super Cup once, which they won last year.

Last season, Sepahan finished second in their league and entered the Preliminary Stage of the AFC Champions League Elite, where they faced a narrow defeat against Al-Duhail SC from Qatar, losing 3-2. Consequently, they dropped to the second tier, the ACL Two, as a Pot 1 team.

Sepahan also reached the finals of the AFC Champions League Elite in 2007 and features several players from the Iran national team, making them a formidable challenge for the Mariners in Group C.

Next up is Al Hussein SC, who enter the tournament as the champions of the Jordanian Pro League. Like Mohun Bagan, they have also achieved back-to-back domestic league titles. Founded in 1964, the club has established a strong reputation in Jordanian football, consistently competing for top honors.

They qualified for the ACL Two group stage by winning their league and have previously won the Jordanian Pro League twice, the FA Shield three times, and the Super Cup three times. This marks their third appearance in the AFC Champions League Two, with their best performance being a Round of 16 finish last season.

With several Jordanian internationals in their lineup, they aim to make a significant impact on the continental stage and challenge the defensive strength of Mohun Bagan Super Giant.

The final opponent for Mohun Bagan Super Giant is Ahal FC, a consistent performer in Turkmenistan's Yokary Liga. Although they have only won the league title once, they have been runners-up seven times and have lifted the Turkmenistan Cup four times, along with the Turkmenistan Super Cup in 2014.

Similar to FC Goa, Ahal FC secured their place in the ACL Two group stage through the playoffs, overcoming Regar-TadAZ Tursunzoda from Tajikistan with a 2-1 victory. This will be their sixth appearance in the AFC Cup or its rebranded format, the AFC Champions League Two.

Ahal FC's direct style of play and resilience could pose a significant challenge for the Mariners in their upcoming matches.