East Bengal begin AFC Cup with home match

National Football League champions East Bengal will open their AFC Cup campaign with a home match against Muktijoddha of Bangladesh on March 9.

Federation Cup winners Dempo Sports Club, India's second entry in the Tier II Asian Club Football Championship, will also begin their campaign the same day in Lebanon, taking on Al Ahed.

The other matches for the East Bengal in Group A will be against Al Faisaly of Jordan and Turkmenistan League winners Nebitchi FC.

The third team in Group B along with Dempo and Al Ahed is Jordan's Al Hussein FC.

"We will be playing for the first time in the AFC Cup and it will be an honour to represent India in an Asian level tournament," a Dempo official said.

In their second match, Dempo will host Al Hussein at the Nehru stadium, Fatorda, Goa, on April 6.

The Goans will then travel to Jordan for their April 20 tie against Al Hussein before hosting Al Ahed in May 11.

East Bengal's second match against Nebitchi FC is scheduled for March 16.

Before meeting Al Faisaly in an away match on April 20, they host the Jordanian Club on April 6.

They will then travel to Bangladesh to take on Muktijoddha on May 11.

The red and gold brigade will round off their group ties against Nebitichi FC at the Salt Lake stadium on May 25, AIFF sources informed.