AFC Cup 2023-24: Group Stage Draw Results

The Indian sides have been placed in Group D of the AFC Cup.

The AFC Cup 2023-24 Group Stage Draw was held at the AFC House at Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, 24 August. A total of 36 teams were put under the hammer and divided into nine separate groups, where they will collide and start their journey towards the final – which takes place on 5 May 2024.

Where have the Indian sides been placed?

When it comes to the Indian Super League (ISL) sides Odisha FC and Mohun Bagan Super Giant, the two were pitted against each other in Group D. The Mariners had to qualify for their spot in the group stages and will face their fellow Indian side, as well as Bangladesh Premier League champions Bashundhara Kings and Maldives side Maziya S&RC.

This will, of course, be Odisha’s first ever appearance in a continental tournament. They earned their spot in the AFC Cup after winning the Hero Super Cup at the end of the 2022-23 season. Mohun Bagan have made a number of appearances in the AFC Cup, but now under Juan Ferrando’s guidance and a star-studded squad, they aim to go all the way and make India proud on a continental level.

With Mohun Bagan's victory 🆚 Abahani, the AFC Cup South Zone group is confirmed ✅#AFCCup #OdishaFC #BashundharaKings #Maziya #MohunBaganSuperGiant #AFC pic.twitter.com/95iVkHY9CN

— Khel Now (@KhelNow) August 22, 2023

The West Zone Groups

When it comes to the other groups, Group B is setting up to be a tasty one. Three-time AFC Cup champions Kuwait SC have been pitted alongside Jordan Pro League side Al-Wehdat as well as 2022 Syrian Cup champions Al-Ittihad Al-Ahli of Aleppo and Iraqi heavyweights Al-Kahrabaa.

In Group A, Lebanese Premier League champions Al-Ahed have been pitted alongside Syrian side Al-Fotuwa, Palestine side Jabal Al-Mukaber and Oman Pro League champions Al-Nahda. This should also prove to be an enticing group in which the Lebanese champions are favorites to come out on top.

Iraqi heavyweights Al-Zawraa headline Group C (the final of the West Zone groups alongside A & B), being put alongside Bahrain champions Al-Riffa, Lebanese side Nejmeh FC, and Kuwait heavyweights Al-Arabi – with the Iraq side the favorites for the time being.

Central Zone Group

Group E (Central Zone) is headlined by Tajikistan giants Ravshan Kulob, who finished as runners-up in their top division last season. They are accompanied by Turkmenistan side Altyn Asyr, 2022 Kyrgyz Republic Cup winners Abdysh-Ata Kant (making their AFC Cup debut) and another Turkmenistan club in Merw Mary.

ASEAN Zone Groups

The ASEAN Zone of the AFC Cup Group Stages consists of three groups, which is Group F, G and H. In Group F, Philippines giants DH Cebu FC (making their debut) have been pitted against 2022 Australian Cup winners Macarthur FC, reigning Myanmar league champions Shan United and Cambodian side Phnom Penh Crown FC – who had to win two qualifiers to make the group stages.

Malaysian giants Terengganu FC headline Group G and will be accompanied by Indonesian heavyweights Bali United, Philippines side Stallion Laguna and the well-known A-League side Central Coast Mariners.

The last group of the ASEAN zone, Group H is headlined by Vietnam league runners-up Haiphong FC. They will be pitted alongside 2022 Singapore Cup winners Hougang United, Malaysian side Sabah FC and Indonesia side PSM Makassar.

The East Zone group

The final group of the 2023 AFC Cup, which represents the Eastern zone of Asia, is Group I. This will be headlined by Macau top division champions Chao Pak Kei, who will go up against Taiwan Premier League reigning champions Taiwan Steel FC, Mongolian champions FC Ulaanbaatar, and Taiwan side Taichung Futuro FC.

The important dates for the AFC Cup 2023 Group Stages

The AFC are yet to announce the exact dates and schedule for all the Group matches, but a general outline of when the group games will happen has already been revealed. The first group stages matchday will be from September 18-September 21, when the teams will play their opening games.

The second matchday is scheduled for October 2-October 5, with the third matchday set to happen in the same month on October 23-October 26. Matchday four of the group stages will take place on November 6-November 9, with the fifth matchday scheduled for November 27-November 30.

The final set of group games is set to take place from December 11-December 14, before the competition moves into the knockout rounds. These dates could change depending on the AFC, but the group games are at least, for now, scheduled to take place on these dates.

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