Phnom Penh Crown FC vs East Bengal Preview, team news, lineups & prediction | AFC Women’s Champions League

East Bengal are the IWL 2025 champions.

East Bengal begin their 2025-26 AFC Women’s Champions League campaign when they face off against Cambodian side Phnom Penh Crown FC in the first preliminary stage game on Monday (25 August, 2025).

In what should be a thrilling contest at the National Sports Complex, Phnom Penh, the Red & Gold Brigade will need to produce a clinical effort against the dangerous hosts to get a big win and strengthen their chances of moving into the group stages.

The Stakes

Phnom Penh Crown FC

Phnom Penh Crown’s Women’s FC team has never progressed to the group stages of the AFC Women’s Champions League, which is why this edition is so important for them. They have dominated the Cambodian Women’s Football system for the last few years, having won the Cambodian Women’s League title in the last two consecutive years. They aim to bring that kind of dominant form to the continental level and will be facing a stern test against the Indian side.

Phnom Penh Crown will be aiming to feed off the energy levels of their fans at their home and produce an efficient performance to blow away the East Bengal women. A win for the hosts can be a huge step forward to sealing qualification to the group stages, but a loss at home could be particularly stinging for them.

East Bengal

East Bengal are heading into the AFC Women’s Champions League prelim stages for the first time and they aim to make Indian football proud by marching onto the group stages. To do so, however, Anthony Andrews’ side will need to produce their best possible performances to defeat the challenging opponents in front of them. The Red & Gold Brigade are blessed with quality talents all over the pitch, but they need to utilize their strengths to bring balance to their performances and take the fight to Phnom Penh Crown FC.

A win for East Bengal in their opening game could be a huge momentum booster and enable them to start dreaming about a place in the group stages. A draw or loss, however, will make it really hard for them to make it past the prelims and put unnecessary pressure that Andrews wouldn’t want in his women.

Team News

Phnom Penh Crown should have a fully fit squad available for this upcoming AFC Women’s Champions League squad.

Anthony Andrews has been able to travel with a pretty strong East Bengal squad, having the majority of his key players available.

Head-to-Head Record

This will be the first time that these two sides meet in a continental match. In fact, it’ll mark the first time that East Bengal Women play a match in an AFC competition.

Predicted Lineups

Phnom Penh Crown FC (4-2-3-1):

Chea Fariya (GK), Kunthea, Sothan, Chanthet, Miki, Chantra, Samnang, Seakleng, Nmol, Sereysithr, Uipha

East Bengal (4-2-3-1):

Panthoi Chanu (GK), Sweety Devi, Ashalata Devi, Astan Oraon, Supriya Kispotta, Soumya Guguloth, Sangaita Basfore, Maurine Achieng, Sandhiya Ranganathan, Resty Nanziri, Fazila Ilkwaput

Players to Watch

Ty Samnang (Phnom Penh Crown FC)

Ty Samnang has been a key player for Phnom Penh Crown FC in their dominance in the Cambodian Women’s League over the last few years, being a real driving force for them. She was able to clinch the Most Valuable Player award for the 2024-25 Cambodian Women’s League, scoring two key goals in the final against Visakha FC as well.

Samnang is a hard-working player who is able to anticipate moves really well and is a troublesome figure in the final third. She will look to torment the East Bengal defenders with her smart movement in the key regions around the final third and finish the opportunities off clinically to guide her side to a big win.

Fazila Ilkwaput (East Bengal)

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East Bengal made a major acquisition ahead of the AFC Women’s Champions League campaign by roping in Ugandan forward Fazila Ilkwaput to strengthen their frontline. Fazila has been excelling in Indian football since she was signed by Gokulam Kerala in 2024, having been a real goal machine in the Indian Women’s League. She won the Best Striker award in the 2024-25 IWL campaign, having scored 24 goals for them, which is more than double than what any other player scored in the division.

Ilkwaput will be aiming to prove her quality as a clinical goal scorer in the continental competition by being a tormenting figure for the defenders. She will look to smartly link-up chances for her teammates and also get in the right areas to ruthlessly finish off chances and guide East Bengal to a strong start in the prelim stages.

Did you know?

• East Bengal are aiming to become the second Indian team to reach the AFC Women’s Champions League group stages after Odisha FC.
• Phnom Penh FC will be facing an Indian side for the first time on a continental competition.
• East Bengal clinched the 2024-25 IWL title by finishing eight points ahead of Gokulam Kerala, winning 12 of their 41 matches.

Telecast Details

The AFC Women’s Champions League preliminary stage match between East Bengal and Phnom Penh Crown FC will take place on Monday (25 August, 2025) at the National Sports Complex, Phnom Penh. The match will kick off at 5:30 PM IST. The game will be shown live on the BTC News Sports Facebook page, but fans from India will need to use VPN to access the match.

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