Mohun Bagan and Bengaluru sorted into strong groups in AFC Cup 2016 draw

THE CLUBS THAT WILL participate in the AFC Cup 2016, the second-tier continental club championship organized by the Asian Football Confederation, were sorted into groups today through a draw of lots.

Two Indian clubs who have made it to Asia this year, I-League champions Mohun Bagan and Federation Cup winners Bengaluru FC - were sorted into Group G and Group H respectively.

The Official draw for the #AFCCup2016 - East Asia pic.twitter.com/GpVdDgNz7Y

— AFC Cup (@AFCCup) December 10, 2015

Bengaluru FC have strong company in their group, including Malaysia's Johor Darul Ta'zim (who beat them last season) or Pahang FA, Lao Toyota FC and Myanmar's Ayeyawady United.

Mohun Bagan, meanwhile, will play AFC Champions League (highest club tournament in Asia) qualifiers from 27th January onwards. Their first preliminary qualifier is home to Tampine Rovers. The winner of this match will face China's Shandong Luneng Taishan on 2nd February, away from home. And the winner of that match will travel down under to for a final play-off match with Adelaide United on 9th February. The winner of that match will gain entry to the ACL group stage.

But in the (rather likely) case that Mohun Bagan fail to make it to the ACL group stage, they will drop down to the AFC Cup Group G which also houses South China from Hong Kong, Maziya from Maldives and either one of Yangon United or Yadanarbon from Myanmar.

The AFC Cup group stage matches will begin from early March, where 32 clubs divided into 8 groups will play each other in a double leg (home-away) round robin format. Top two clubs from each group will progress to the knockout stages.