Kolkata: East Bengal FC have been drawn to face Nejmeh SC of Lebanon, Bangladesh outfit Bashundhara Kings and Paro FC of Bhutan in the group stage of the inaugural AFC Challenge League.
The Challenge League, which is now the third tier of men’s AFC club competitions, will have five groups — three comprising four teams from the West each and two involving three teams from the East each.
Carles Cuadrat’s side has been placed in Group A. Paro FC will host all Group A matches in Thimpu from Oct 26 to Nov 1.
Eight teams will progress from the group stage – the three group winners and best-ranked runners-up from the West, and the top two finishers of each group from the East.
East Bengal, thus, need to win their group to advance to the quarterfinals.
AFC CHALLENGE LEAGUE
Group A: East Bengal FC (India), Nejmeh SC (Lebanon), Bashundhara Kings (Bangladesh), Paro FC (Bhutan).
EAST BENGAL’S FIXTURES — Oct 26: vs Paro FC; Oct 29: vs Bashundhara; Nov 1: vs Nejmeh SC.