The AFC Challenge League group stage draw for the 2024-25 season was conducted at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday and East Bengal FC have learned their opponents.

The Red and Gold Brigade have been paired with Nejmeh SC (Lebanon), Bashundhara Kings (Bangladesh), and Paro FC (Bhutan) in Group A.

The AFC Challenge League, Asia's third-tier continental club football competition, comprises five groups in the group stage – three comprising four teams from the West Region and two involving three teams from the East Region – set to be played over three matchdays between October 26 and November 2. Each group will compete in a centralized location in a single round-robin format. Paro FC will host Group A at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu.

The Indian Super League (ISL) side have returned to the continental stage after a 9-year hiatus by winning the 2024 Kalinga Super Cup, which secured them an indirect place in the continental competition.

Carles Cuadrat’s side contested the AFC Champions League Two qualifying round on August 14, but a 2-3 defeat to Altyn Asyr FC (Turkmenistan) means they will now feature in the AFC Challenge League. East Bengal were placed in Pot 1 in the draw. This will be the first time East Bengal FC will play in a continental club competition group stage since the 2015 AFC Cup. Their best showing came in the 2013 AFC Cup, where they reached the semi-finals.

Nejmeh SC, former runners-up of the AFC Cup in 2005, qualified for the AFC Challenge League by virtue of being the 2023-24 Lebanese Premier League champions. East Bengal faced Nejmeh previously in the 2010 AFC Cup Group Stage, losing 0-3 away and 0-4 at home.

Bashundhara Kings booked their slot in the tournament as the 2023-24 Bangladesh Premier League champions. It will be their fifth consecutive group-stage appearance in an AFC club competition. Paro FC, the 2023 Bhutan Premier League champions, overcame Church Boys United (Nepal) in the qualifying round to make their debut in a continental club competition group stage.

Eight teams will progress from the group stage – the three group winners and the best-ranked runners-up from the West, and the top two finishers of each group from the East – to the quarter-finals, which will take place between March 5 and 13, 2025. The double-legged semi-finals will unfold from April 9 to 17, 2025, and the winners will advance to the final on May 10, 2025.

AFC Challenge League 2024-25 Group Stage Draw Result:

Group A: East Bengal FC (IND), Nejmeh SC (LBN), Bashundhara Kings (BAN), Paro FC (BHU, Hosts)

Group B: Al Arabi SC (KUW, H), FC Arkadag (TKM), Maziya Sports & Recreation (MDV), FC Abdysh-Ata Kant (KGZ)

Group C: Al Ahli (BHR), Al Futowa SC (SYR), Al Seeb Club (OMA, H), Hilal Al-Quds (PLE)

Group D: Shan United FC (MYA, H), Tainan City FC (TPE), Young Elephants FC (LAO)

Group E: Madura United (IDN), Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC (CAM), SP Falcons (MNG, H)

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East Bengal FC2023-2024