East Bengal’s opponents in their AFC Champions League Two Prelims have been revealed, with Altyn Asyr FC from Turkmenistan set to play against the Kalinga Super Cup winners.
The Red and Gold side have returned to Asian football after a gap of nine years, and will host their opponents from Turkmenistan at the Salt Lake Stadium on 14 August 2024.
East Bengal’s opponents in AFC Champions League 2 tie revealed
𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞 𝗜𝗡 𝗔𝗦𝗜𝗔 𝗔𝗙𝗧𝗘𝗥 9⃣ 𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗦 🤩
— East Bengal FC (@eastbengal_fc) June 19, 2024
We'll take on Turkmenistan's Altyn Asyr FC in the AFC Champions League Two Preliminary Stage match!
🗓️ 14 August '24
🏟️ VYBK, Kolkata#JoyEastBengal #EastBengalFC pic.twitter.com/hR2VFUhxWU
Mohun Bagan SG have already sealed their place in the group stage of the AFC Champions League 2 after winning the ISL Shield. Now, East Bengal must win against Altyn Asyr FC to earn their spot in the 32-team group stage.
East Bengal faced Nebitçi FC, also from Turkmenistan, in the 2005 AFC Cup. The first leg in March ended 3-2 in favour of their opponents, while a hat-trick from Ernest Jeremiah helped them earn a 3-2 win in the return fixture in May. And this is only the third-ever time that they will play a Turkmenistani club.
However, 19 years later, nothing is quite the same, with the club now competing in the ISL in the revamped landscape of Indian football.
When is East Bengal’s training camp set to start?
Early July, to prepare for the Durand Cup.
