Super League Kerala 2025 Semi Final 1: Calicut FC vs Kannur Warriors FC Preview, team news, lineups and predictions

Calicut FC will be eying their second consecutive Super League Kerala 2025 Final

The Super League Kerala comes back into action as the scintillating EMS Corporation Stadium is all geared up to host the first semi-final. The defending champions, Calicut FC, will lock horns against Kannur Warriors FC in a head-to-head showdown to secure a spot in the mother of all battles, the Super League Kerala Finals, to stand a chance to be crowned as the Champions of Kerala.

Calicut FC, finishing at the top of the table, will be looking forward to continuing their six-game winning streak and registering their place in back-to-back finals. On the other hand, Kannur Warriors FC, who qualified for the semi-finals in the most nerve-wracking manner, would be looking forward to making the best out of their playoff matches.

With Calicut aiming to display their consistency and seal the berth in the finals on their home soil, and Kannur eying to redeem themselves from the mid-season struggle, the Semi-Final 1 clash of the Super League Kerala between Calicut FC and Kannur Warriors FC, would definitely take the fans to the edge of their seats.

The Stakes

Calicut FC

Calicut FC are in their best form right now in the Super League Kerala. After a sloppy start to the season, haggling at the fourth spot, they finally came into their ideal shape and ended the group stage with 21 points, comfortably ahead of their competitors at the top of the table. With a six-game winning streak, the defending champions would be eager to continue this momentum and extend their winning streak to qualify for their second consecutive final and potentially their back-to-back Super League Kerala title.

In their final group stage match against Thiruvananthapuram Kombans, Calicut displayed a relentless fighting spirit, slotting in two goals in the stoppage time to secure a late thriller at the Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium. With this win, Calicut ended the playoff hopes of the Kombans and injected confidence into their side ahead of the knockout matches. For Calicut, the stakes are hence simple. Display their best performance, clinch the victory and move to the finals on home soil.

Kannur Warriors FC

Kannur Warriors qualified for the semi-finals in the most unimaginable way possible. The Warriors ended their group stage fixtures with three wins and four draws and 13 points in hand. Even though they ended their run in the top four, they had a big barrier in their qualification race.

They had to hope that either Malappuram FC or Thiruvananthapuram Kombans FC would lose their match. The Kombans, who just needed a draw to progress to the semi-finals, were leading the match until the end of regulation time. However, in the stoppage time, Calicut FC scored two late goals to secure their sixth consecutive victory. This meant that Kannur Warriors earned a wild-card entry into the semis.

The Warriors would definitely know the feeling of losing out in the tournament. Following this wild card entry, they would be looking forward to make best of the opportunity received and turn tables at the EMS Corporation Stadium. If Kannur Warriors FC somehow manages to create an upset at Kozhikode, it would mark their debut appearance in the Super League Kerala semi-final.

Team News

The Kannur Warriors striker, Adrian Sardinero, was substituted off in the 14th minute of their final round fixture against Thrissur Magic FC due to an injury. The availability of Sardinero for the Semi-Final match is yet to be known.

The Calicut FC captain, Prashant K, who was unavailable in their final round match against Thiruvananthapuram Kombans due to a fever, is expected to be back on the pitch for the crucial Super League Kerala Semi-Final 1.

Head-to-head record

• Matches Played – 4
• Calicut FC Won – 2
• Kannur Warriors FC Won – 0
• Draw – 2
• Latest Match – Kannur Warriors FC 1-2 Calicut FC | November 28, 2025 – Jawahar Municipal Stadium, Talap

Player To Watch Out For

The two Malayali U23 players, Muhammed Ajsal and Muhammed Sinan, will be the key players to watch out for in the Super League Kerala 2025 Semi-Final 1.

Calicut FC – Muhammed Ajsal

Ajsal, the loanee from Kerala Blasters FC, was loaned to Calicut FC to earn some competitive minutes on the pitch. However, what he has delivered is a statement of readiness. The 22-year-old has been the bright spark of the Super League Kerala, instrumental in crafting important wins for Calicut FC.

Ajsal notably scored the first hat-trick of this season after netting in three goals at the Maharajas Ground to trash Forca Kochi 6-2. The forward has scored almost one-third of the total goals scored by Calicut so far. Ajsal had also been leading the golden boot race for the vast majority of the season, until he was dethroned by Kennedy in the final match. The striker would be keen on regaining his position at the top of the table and sealing the spot in the finals for Calicut FC.

Kannur Warriors FC – Muhammed Sinan

The U23 striker of Kannur Warriors FC is yet another bright spark created by the Super League Kerala. Sinan has an uncanny ability to create some excellent moves in the final third to pile pressure upon the opponents and force errors from them. Sinan has also excellently combined with his Spanish teammates, Asier Gomes and Adrian Sardinero, to significantly add to the work of the opponents.

However, with Sardinero’s availability yet to be known, Sinan will have the responsibility of leading his side to the win. The striker has so far scored three goals and provided three assists for his side. Sinas was also notably the first player in the history of the Super League Kerala to score a goal at Kannur Warriors’ home ground, Jawahar Municipal Stadium. The young talent is currently the top goal scorer for his side after the Round 10 fixtures.

Predicted Lineups

Calicut FC Predicted Lineup (4-3-3)

Hajmal (GK); Sachu, Alexis Sosa, Richard Osei, Riyas; Asif, Nahuel Pereyra, Federico Boasso; Roshal, Prashant K, Ajsal

Kannur Warriors FC Predicted Lineup (4-3-3)

Ubaid CK (GK); Sandeep, Vikas Saini, Nicolas Delmonte, Manoj; Ernesten Lavsamba, Arjun M, Asier Gomes; Muhammed Sinan, Abdou Karim Samb, Kean

When and where to watch the Super League Kerala semi-final 1 between Calicut FC and Kannur Warriors FC?

The Super League Kerala Semi-Final 1 between Calicut FC and Kannur Warriors FC will be played on 14th December and will be live broadcast on the Sony Sports Network and the Sports.com website. Fans all across India can watch the Super League Kerala playoff matches from 7:30 pm onwards.