Dhaka Abahani Limited will begin their AFC Cup 2019 campaign when they face Nepal’s league champions Manang Marshyangdi Club in the group E encounter scheduled to be held today (Wednesday) ANFA Complex Ground in Kathmandu, Nepal.
The match kicks off at 3.15 pm (BST).
The Professional League Champions Abahani Limited have not been able to cross the first-round hurdle in their previous two attempts in the AFC Cup and five attempts in the now-defunct AFC President’s Cup.
But this time, the team’s coach and captain believe that the team is more balanced and in-form than the previous editions.
Abahani Portuguese coach Mario Lemos before departure in Nepal told the press that the first match is very important for them and if they able to get a result away from home, the team would be in a good position.
Abahani manager Satyajit Das Rupu earlier informed that the team is in good shape ahead of their first match.
Manang Marshayngdi Club (MMC) coach Chirring Lopsang Gurung said that his players were highly motivated ahead of their match against Dhaka Abahani.
He said they are playing at home and they are well prepared. He is very happy that his boys are highly motivated for the match.
Coach Gurung also added that he wanted to take the team to second round.
He said their target is to go second round and want to start with a win. It is going to be 50-50 affair against Dhaka Abahani and all they need to do, is to utilize goal scoring chances.
The other two teams in their group are two Indian outfits – two-time Indian Super League champions Chennaiyin FC and former I-League champions Minerva Punjab.
Only the group winners from Group E will advance to the next stage, the inter-zonal playoff semifinals.
The Dhaka giant will then play their second group home match against Minera Punjab on April 17 at Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS) before playing their third group away match against Chennaiyin FC on April 30 at The Arena, Ahmedabad.
The sky blue Dhanmondi ‘outfit’ again face against Chennaiyin and Manang Marshyangdi Club in the home matches on May 15 and June 17 at BNS before playing their last group away match against Minerva Punjab on June 26 at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar.
