Bashundhara Kings, the champions of the Bangladesh Premier League football will play in the AFC Champions League when they will face Sharjah FC of United Arab Emirates on August 15,
Meanwhile, Abahani Limited Dhaka will face off against Maldives’ Club Eagles in the Preliminary Stage Round 2 for a place in the Playoff Stage which is scheduled for August 22.
However, Bashundhara Kings, the first team of Bangladesh will play in the AFC Champions League when they will have to play in the preliminary stage and if could win the encounter against Sharjah FC will have the opportunity to play in the Playoff Stage against the Tractor FC of Islamic Republic of Iran on August 22.
Kings will be able to qualify in the final stage if they could win the Playoff round match against the Tractor FC of Iran.
Meanwhile, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has confirmed the line-up of the Preliminary and Playoff Stages of the AFC Cup AFC Cup and AFC Champions League 2023-24.
According to AFC release, the race to secure a place in the AFC Champions League 2023-24 Group Stage will begin in Hong Kong, China where Lee Man will host Vietnam’s Haiphong FC on August 15, 2023, in the Preliminary Stage with the winners sealing a date with Korea Republic’s Incheon United FC in the Playoff Stage on August 22.
Similarly, Hong Kong Rangers will contend with Bali United from Indonesia on August 16, in the Preliminary Stage following which the winners will progress to face defending champions Urawa Red Diamonds in the Playoff Stage on August 22.
Moving on to the West Zone Preliminary Stage, which will see all matches played on August 15, Shabab Al Ahli from the United Arab Emirates will host Jordan’s Al Wehdat with the winners advancing to face Al Nassr from Saudi Arabia in the Playoff Stage, where all matches are scheduled for August 22.
The next Preliminary Stage encounter pits Sharjah FC from the United Arab Emirates against Bashundhara Kings from Bangladesh with the winners facing Tractor FC from the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Playoff Stage.
Uzbekistan’s AGMK FC will host AFC Cup 2022 titleholders, Al Seeb Club from Oman in the Preliminary Stage with the winners going on to compete in the Playoff Stage against Al Arabi SC from Qatar.
The final Playoff Stage battle will see Al Wakrah SC from Qatar square off with Navbahor from Uzbekistan.
Meanwhile, the AFC Cup 2023-24 action will kick off in the South Zone where Nepal’s Machhindra FC will host Paro FC from Bhutan on August 8 with the winners sealing a date with Mohun Bagan from India on August 15 in the Preliminary Stage Round 2.
Abahani Limited Dhaka from Bangladesh will face off against Maldives’ Club Eagles on the same day in the Preliminary Stage Round 2 for a place in the Playoff Stage which is scheduled for August 22.
Similarly on August 22, Al Khaldiya SC from Bahrain will host Al Nahda from Oman while Shabab Al Khalil from Palestine will face a Syrian side to be determined in due course, with the winners of both matches in the West Zone sealing their spots in the AFC Cup™ Group Stage.
