Top 3 April 25 SC players to watch out for against East Bengal FC in AFC Women's Champions League 2026-27 clash
April 25 SC currently sit top of Group B in the 2026-27 AFC Women’s Champions League
On 7th November 2026, East Bengal FC will play their final game in the Group B of the AFC Women’s Champions League 2026-27 season, against DPR Korean side, April 25 SC. The match will be played at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan and is scheduled to kick-off at 08:00 PM IST.
April 25 SC, who are the defending champions of the DPR Korean Women’s League, have been on a roll in the 2026-27 AFC Women’s Champions League campaign so far. They have remained to be unbeaten in all five games they have played.
Being a North Korean team, there is very little information available about April 25 SC’s domestic campaign, as the country itself rarely shares information with the outside world.
In the preliminary stages of the tournament, April 25 SC were placed in Pot 2 and drawn in Group D alongside College of Asian Scholars, S’Amuser and Kharaatsai. They cruised through the preliminary stage with three wins, scoring 29 goals and conceding just one, to top their group and qualify for the group stages.
In the group stages, playing in Kolkata, they have won both their opening games, scoring eight goals and conceding just one. This has put them at the top of Group B and in a strong position to finish as group winners and qualify for the knockout stages.
Having secured wins against Hwacheon KSPO WFC and Ho Chi Minh City, the North Korean side will now face hosts East Bengal. The Indian side cannot afford to lose this game if they are to secure qualification for the knockout stages.
Despite winning their opening game against Ho Chi Minh City, East Bengal suffered a 4-1 defeat to Hwacheon KSPO WFC in their next fixture, leaving them in this difficult position heading into the final game. A win or a draw would secure their place in the knockouts, while avoiding a heavy defeat could keep them in contention, depending on the results of the other games.
As April 25 SC look to close their campaign on a high and extend their winning run in the 2026-27 AFC Women’s Champions League to six games, let’s take a look at three key players who could make a major impact against East Bengal FC.
Jong Pok-Yong
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A young center-back, Pok-Yong is not just a reliable defender for April 25 SC but also a significant threat in the final third through her presence at attacking set-pieces. She has scored in both of the North Korean side’s group-stage games in the 2026-27 AFC Women’s Champions League so far.
Pok-Yong is a clean and composed defender who displays excellent technical ability when playing out from the back and distributing long balls. Her game involves a high number of interceptions and clearances, while she remains disciplined in her defensive actions.
She also started and played a key role in North Korea’s run to the final of the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, where they lost to Spain on penalties.
Choe Kong-Ryan
A midfielder known for her set-piece delivery and the quality of her crosses from wide areas, Kong-Ryan has registered four assists in just two games in the ongoing group stages of the 2026-27 AFC Women’s Champions League.
She has come on as a substitute in both games and played only around 60 minutes in total but has already created approximately eight chances in that limited time. Known for her work rate, endurance and tenacity, she can operate as a box-to-box midfielder, an attacking midfielder or a defensive midfielder.
She recorded 100% passing accuracy in the previous game against Ho Chi Minh City, completing all 35 of her attempted passes while also making a couple of crucial defensive contributions.
Kong-Ryan also scored against Argentina and Costa Rica at the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
Sin Pom-Hyang
A midfielder who can also operate as an attacking midfielder or winger, Sin Pom-Hyang is a versatile presence in April’s attack. She has featured on the left flank, playing as a left midfielder for the North Korean side in this AFC Women’s Champions League campaign.
Although her crossing and attacking output in the group stages have been limited so far, she scored five goals in the preliminary stages of the competition, finding the net in all three games. Her versatility allows her to make effective off-the-ball runs to find pockets of space.
She also has the ability to score crucial goals and play line-breaking passes. East Bengal must be wary of her movement and her ability to turn a single goal into a brace or even a hat-trick, as she demonstrated during the preliminary stages of the tournament.
Who is the head coach of April 25 SC?
April 25 SC are currently managed by former North Korean international Kim Kwang-min.
When is the match between East Bengal and April 25 SC scheduled?
The match between East Bengal FC and April 25 SC is scheduled to kick off at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on November 7 at 8:00 PM IST.
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