Top 3 East Bengal players to watch out for against Ho Chi Minh City in AFC Women's Champions League clash

The Moshal Girls prepare to face Ho Chi Minh City WFC in their Group B opener of the AWCL 2026–27.

East Bengal Women are ready for a challenging continental test as they gear up to face Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC in their opening fixture in Group B of the 2026-27 AFC Women’s Champions League in Kishore Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata, on November 1, 2026 at 8PM IST.

The AFC Women’s Champions League (AWCL) 2026–27 Group Stage match between East Bengal Women and Ho Chi Minh City WFC is scheduled to start on November 1. The Moshal Girls will try to maximise their home advantage and start their campaign strong as Kolkata will host Group B from November 1 to 7.

East Bengal have been drawn alongside Vietnamese champions Ho Chi Minh City WFC, South Korean champions Hwacheon KSPO WFC and DPR Korean side 4.25 SC in Group B. After winning their preliminary-round group in Malaysia, the Indian champions guaranteed their spot in the group stage for the second year in a row. They will now try to advance to the competition’s quarterfinals for the first time.

But the Moshal Girls will not have an easy time taking on the Ho Chi Minh City WFC. The Vietnamese group will be keen to launch a successful campaign of their own because they are seasoned campaigners on the continental stage.

With the stakes high, these three East Bengal women’s players could be vital against Ho Chi Minh City WFC.

Fazila Ikwaput

Fazila Ikwaput will be one of the biggest attacking threats in East Bengal Women’s squad when they face Vietnamese champions Ho Chi Minh City WFC in their opening fixture of the AFC Women’s Champions League (AWCL) 2026-27 Group Stage.

The Ugandan international has established herself as one of the most prolific forwards in Indian women’s football, scoring 20 goals for East Bengal Women in the 2025-26 Indian Women’s League (IWL) to finish as the league’s top scorer. She also won the Best Striker award. The Moshal Girls will therefore rely on her goal-scoring prowess as they look to secure a positive result against the Vietnamese champions.

Fazila’s ability to pose an attacking threat and help East Bengal convert promising moves into clear-cut chances could prove vital. The Ugandan forward will be expected to play a key role in the Moshal Girls’ attacking plans as they look to begin their continental campaign on a positive note.

East Bengal must make the most of their opportunities in front of goal against Ho Chi Minh City WFC. Ikwaput could play a decisive role in the final third, particularly if the Indian champions look to exploit gaps in the opposition’s defence.

Soumya Guguloth

Soumya Guguloth will be another player to watch out for when East Bengal Women face Ho Chi Minh City WFC in their opening fixture of the AFC Women’s Champions League (AWCL) 2026-27 Group Stage at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on November 1, 2026.

The Indian international can add another dimension to East Bengal’s attacking play. For head coach Anthony Andrews, Soumya could be an important player capable of making a difference at crucial moments with her presence and contribution on the pitch.

Against a formidable opponent like Ho Chi Minh City WFC, who have considerable continental experience, Guguloth’s ability to carry the ball forward, link up with her teammates and create scoring opportunities could help the Indian champions find openings. East Bengal must make effective use of their attacking options and maintain pressure in the final third if they are to overcome the Vietnamese outfit in what promises to be a fiercely contested encounter.

Soumya could play a crucial role in helping East Bengal Women make a strong start to their AWCL 2026-27 campaign, particularly if she combines effectively with Fazila Ikwaput in the attacking third.

Her movement in wide areas could stretch the opposition’s defensive line and create space for Ikwaput to operate in more dangerous positions. The combination between the two attackers could prove instrumental in helping the Moshal Girls break down Ho Chi Minh City’s defence and create clear-cut scoring opportunities.

Overall, Soumya’s attacking mobility, ability to link up with her teammates and contribution in the final third could make her an important player for East Bengal against the Vietnamese champions.

Panthoi Chanu Elangbam

Panthoi Chanu will be equally important for East Bengal Women when they begin their AFC Women’s Champions League (AWCL) 2026-27 Group Stage campaign in Kolkata. While the Moshal Girls’ attackers will look to make an impact in the final third, the Indian international goalkeeper will have a crucial role to play in keeping the opposition at bay.

The Indian international has been consistent and composed between the posts for the Moshal Girls in recent outings. During the preliminary stage, she kept three clean sheets in three matches, providing a major boost to head coach Anthony Andrews and his team ahead of the group-stage fixtures.

If Ho Chi Minh City WFC manage to create scoring opportunities, Panthoi’s role between the posts could become particularly important. East Bengal will need to remain defensively organised to contain the attacking threats posed by the Vietnamese outfit, who are the reigning Vietnamese Women’s League champions.

Maintaining concentration throughout the match will be essential against a technically capable opponent. Chanu’s communication with her defenders, command of the penalty area and shot-stopping ability in crucial moments could prove vital in helping East Bengal maintain a compact defensive structure and compete for all three points.

A strong performance from Panthoi could give the Moshal Girls the confidence to push forward and pursue a positive result. In a high-pressure continental encounter, the goalkeeper’s contribution could prove just as decisive as that of the forwards as East Bengal look to begin their group-stage campaign on a winning note.

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