East Bengal FC’s women’s team has scripted history by qualifying for the AFC Women’s Champions League 2025-26 group stage, marking a watershed moment for Indian women’s club football.
Fresh from winning the 2024-25 Indian Women’s League (IWL), the team now steps into uncharted territory Asia’s premier women’s club competition. Placed in Group B, East Bengal face a daunting challenge against three continental heavyweights: Wuhan Jiangda WFC (China), Bam Khatoon FC (Iran), and PFC Nasaf (Uzbekistan). With matches scheduled in China between November 17–23, 2025, this campaign represents both a stern test and an invaluable opportunity for the Kolkata club.
The qualification itself is an achievement of immense significance. East Bengal are only the second Indian club ever to make it to the group stage of the AFC Women’s Champions League. It caps a remarkable turnaround for a team re-formed as recently as 2022 and now standing among Asia’s elite. The tournament format features 12 teams split into three groups of four. The top two from each group, along with the two best third-placed sides, will qualify for the knockout stage. With Wuhan Jiangda, the defending continental champions, hosting the group, East Bengal know progression will not be easy.
Domestic Dominance, Continental Reality
East Bengal earned their spot by winning the IWL in dominant fashion 12 wins, one draw, and just one defeat in 14 games, scoring 38 goals and conceding only 10. Ugandan striker Fazila Ikwaput led the charge, clinching the Golden Boot, while national team stars like Sangita Basfore and Sandhiya Ranganathan provided consistency. However, the Preliminary Stage in Cambodia was a reality check. A narrow 1-0 win over Phnom Penh Crown and a 1-1 draw with Kitchee SC of Hong Kong were enough to qualify, but the tight margins showed the gulf between the IWL and Asia’s broader competitive landscape.
Reliance on a handful of key players was evident, underlining the need for greater tactical flexibility at the group stage.
For the continental campaign, East Bengal have strengthened with international reinforcements, adding depth to their Indian core.
Key players include:
- Fazila Ikwaput (Forward, Uganda): Golden Boot winner, decisive in preliminaries.
- Sangita Basfore (Midfielder, India): Scored the crucial goal against Kitchee SC.
- Ashalata Devi (Defender, India): India’s national team captain, defensive rock.
- Sweety Devi (Defender, India): Club captain and experienced campaigner.
- Sandhiya Ranganathan (Forward, India): A reliable attacking option.
The squad also features new foreign recruits Amnah Nababi, Abena Anoma Opoku, and Maureen Tovia Okpala, alongside Resty Nanziri, reflecting a clear strategy to balance local talent with overseas quality.
The Group of Giants
Wuhan Jiangda WFC (China)
The overwhelming favourites of the group, Wuhan Jiangda have won five straight Chinese Super League titles and are the reigning AFC Women’s Champions League champions. Their triumph last season included dramatic penalty shootouts, showcasing both skill and resilience. Led by coach Chang Weiwei, with stars like Wang Shuang, Wuhan represent the pinnacle of Asian club football.
Bam Khatoon FC (Iran)
Iran’s most successful club, Bam Khatoon are 10-time national champions and seasoned continental participants. They reached the quarterfinals last year and have already shown they can compete strongly outside their domestic league. Their previous 2-2 draw against PFC Nasaf offers a tactical benchmark for East Bengal.
PFC Nasaf (Uzbekistan)
With 16 league titles, Nasaf dominate Uzbek women’s football. Like East Bengal, this is their group stage debut, but they showed strength in preliminaries with a 2-1 win over College of Asian Scholars. Their past draw against Bam Khatoon suggests they are evenly matched with the Iranian side, setting up a fascinating battle for second and third place.
The Roadmap for East Bengal
East Bengal’s fixtures will be:
- Nov 17: vs Bam Khatoon FC
- Nov 20: vs Wuhan Jiangda WFC
- Nov 23: vs PFC Nasaf
The opening match against Bam Khatoon is pivotal. A win would not only boost morale but also put East Bengal in contention for a knockout spot. The clash with Wuhan will be about damage limitation and learning against Asia’s best, while the final game against Nasaf could prove decisive for qualification. A realistic target for East Bengal is to finish second or third with at least one victory. Given the format, even a single win paired with a strong goal difference might be enough to reach the quarterfinals.
For East Bengal, this campaign is about more than just results. Competing against Asia’s elite is a milestone in itself, symbolizing the growing stature of Indian women’s football. While progression to the knockouts would be historic, even one strong win and consistently competitive performances would mark success in this debut season. The experience gained will provide a benchmark for the future not just for East Bengal but for Indian women’s club football as a whole.
In the grander scheme, November 2025 could well be remembered as the month Indian women’s football took another decisive step towards continental relevance.
