Machhindra FC will face Blue Star FC, the SriLanka League winners in the first round of AFC Cup. The white Lions host SriLankan side on April 5, in Dasarath Rangashala.
The winner of the match will face FC Mohun Bagan in the second round of the qualifiers. Machhindra were qualified after they defeated Police in the ongoing Martyr’s memorial A Division league.
The Nepal’s defending league champions Machhindra, if qualified for 2022 AFC cup will face India’s Gokulam Kerala, Bangladesh’s Bashundhara Kings and Maldives’ Maziya in group D if they qualify.
The qualifiers features two preliminary rounds and a play off. The winners of first round, Machhindra or Blue Star face Mohun Bagan in the second round.
The other two competitors in first round of the qualifiers are Maldives’ Valencia and Bhutan’s Paro FC. Dhaka’s Abahani Limited Dhaka await the winner of Valencia and Paro.
The winner of each round two the vie for the play off, where one team makes their way to the group stage match in the 2022 AFC Cup.
The bracket of the qualifying rounds were decided based on each team’s association ranking, with each team ranked higher privileged to host the match.
Machhindra are the defending champions and currently leading the 2078 Shahid Smarak A division league.
The 2022 AFC cup will be the 19th edition of the tournament, and the winner of the championship will feature in the 2023 edition of the AFC Champions league.
