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Indian Women's Football

All you need to know about Odisha FC's campaign in upcoming AFC Women's Champions League

Published at :August 26, 2024 at 1:32 AM
Modified at :August 26, 2024 at 1:32 AM
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Riddhiman Sarkar

The Juggernauts won their inaugural Indian Women’s League trophy last season.

Odisha FC Women’s team scripted history as they secured a place in the inaugural edition of the AFC Women’s Champions League (AWCL 2024-25) by winning the Indian Women’s League (IWL) 2023-24. Ever since their inception, only two years ago, the women’s team has left their men’s counterparts far behind in terms of squad building, player potential, and silverware. 

While Odisha FC have just won the Super Cup in 2023, the women’s team have already secured the primary title, IWL, after getting to the quarters in their debut season. In doing so they have also managed a berth in the prestigious, first-ever AFC Women’s Champions League.

Head coach Crispin Chettri has been given a well-deserved contract extension after their record-breaking feats. The tactician has, however, been helped immensely by the stellar squad he has at his disposal. 

The Kalinga Warriors not only have a rock-solid Indian contingent featuring the likes of Indumathi Karesan and Pyari Xaxa but international sensations as well. Last year Chettri’s girls were helped immensely by the Myanmar Women’s League’s all-time top scorer (with 100 goals), Win Theingi Tun, who scored seven goals in only nine appearances. 

Additionally, Tun imparted her knowledge of being a fox-in-the-box to Indian attacker Xaxa as she turned out to be the Juggernauts’ top-scorer for last season with eight goals. This was Xaxa’s second season running at the top of the scoring charts for her side, as she finished Odisha FC Women’s debut IWL season as their highest scorer with 11 goals. 

Chettri’s side have not backed down and look stronger than ever with more signings ahead of their AWCL journey, for which they recently announced their squad.

Road to AWCL 

The Asian Football Confederation has initiated the AWCL from the 2024-25 season onwards to give Asian Women’s football teams a bigger platform to showcase their talent. Naturally, as the IWL 2023-24 winners, Odisha FC Women were formally allotted a berth in the prestigious tournament’s preliminary stages.

The draw for the tournament pitched the Indian champions into an initial group consisting of Jordan Women’s Football League side Etihad Club and Singapore Premier League outfit Lion City Sailors FC. Crispin Chettri’s squad will be traveling to the host city of Jordan, for the matches between 25th and 31st August, hoping to overcome these hurdles and book a place in the AWCL 2024-25 group stages. 

Both Lion City and Etihad have been domestic champions in their respective leagues and will be a good test for the Juggernauts, indicating their competence on the global stage. 

Fixtures

  • M01 | August 25th, 2024 | Lion City Sailors FC 1 vs 4 Odisha FC Women | 9:30 P.M. IST | Jordan
  • M02 | August 31st, 2024 | Odisha FC Women vs Etihad Club | 9:30 P.M. IST | Jordan 

Squad details

The Kalinga Warriors have announced their traveling squad with their recent inclusions in the team. The manager will journey with the players and the following is their full squad for the AWCL 2024-25 preliminary stages.

ACWL Squad

Goalkeepers: Shreya Hooda, Anshika, Aisha Ghatualo

Defenders: Arifa Zaheer, Kretina Sangma, Ibrahim Maryam, Nimita Gurung, Kajal, Nishka Parkash, Sulekha Kanhar

Midfielders: Grace Hauhnar, Kajol D’Souza, Kiran Pisda

Attackers: Lynda Kom, Pyari Xaxa, Jennifer Kankam, Aishwarya Jagtap, Neha Sillay

Head Coach: Crispin Chettri

New Signings 

Odisha FC recruited a prized asset before their AWCL campaign in Ghana Footballer of the Year 2024-winner Jennifer Kankam Yeboah. The prolific African forward has impressively scored 57 goals and provided 28 assists in 30 matches played for Zed FC. Her impeccable feat saw her win 20 MVP awards in the league season, which will surely come in handy in Odisha FC Women’s Asian campaign. 

The Kalinga warriors have also brought in pacey finisher Aishwarya Arunrao Jagtap and attacker Neha Sillay alongside trustworthy goal custodian Anshika. The Juggernauts have also strengthened their midfield with the incoming Kiran Pisda and Kajol D’Souza. However, Chettri has overseen the biggest overhaul in their defense with the vigilant Kajal Kantiwal, Nishka Prakash, and Nimita Gurung being secured in one fell swoop. 

The road ahead

Odisha FC Women have come a long way since their introduction to the IWL two years back. They have continually scripted pathbreaking moments and gone from strength to strength under Indian tactician Crispin Chettri. 

Now that Chettri has been handed the extension to oversee managerial duties till 2026, it remains to be seen what he can do on the Asian stage. The AWCL is going to be a new and daunting challenge for the Juggernauts. However, with how well-balanced they are on all fronts, they should aim to go all guns blazing and break a few more records on the way hopefully.

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