Indian Women’s League champion East Bengal will look to continue its purple patch under coach Anthony Andrews as it faces Kitchee from Hong Kong in their preliminary round of the AFC Women’s Champions League on Sunday.
East Bengal, which won its maiden women’s top-flight side this year, started the preliminary round with a 1-0 win over Cambodian champion Phnom Penh Crown in their opening, with Fazila Ikwaput scoring the winner.
The Moshal Girls have made a series of signings this summer and will hope to follow Odisha FC – it reached the Champions League group stage last season – as the second Indian side to make it to the main tournament.
How can East Bengal qualify for the AFC Women’s Champions League?
East Bengal is drawn with Phnom Penh Crown and Kitchee in the preliminary stage.
In the second group stage match, Phnom Penh Crown dropped points against Kitchee in a 3-3 draw, giving East Bengal an advantage.
Here is how East Bengal can now qualify for the group stage of the AFC Women’s Champions League:
If East Bengal draws/wins:
The Kolkata-based side will qualify irrespective of what happens in the other groups.
If East Bengal loses:
East Bengal will have to wait for the results in the other four groups to determine whether it finishes as the best runner-up among all second-placed teams. Only in such a case will East Bengal then seal a spot in the group stage.
Published on Aug 30, 2025
