Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) champions Bashundhara Kings are set to play the Maldivian champions Maziya Sports & Recreation Club in a vital Group D match of the AFC Cup Football on Monday.

The Kings hope to maintain their top position in the group by winning the match, reports UNB.

Two Indian Clubs --Kolkata Mohun Bagan Super Giants will play Odisha FC -- also on Monday at 8: pm at the Salt Lake Stadium In Kolkata.

After the four Group D matches, Bashundhara Kings and Kolkata Mohun Bagan Club lead the group table jointly securing seven points each while Maziya SRC are in the bottom with three points.

Bashundhara Kings, which made a frustrating start in the four-team Group D with a shocking 1-3 goals defeat against weaker Maziya SRC in group opener in Male, had a good opportunity to take sweet revenge of their defeat as well as to keep their top slot intact in the group.

Ahead of the Monday' s key match, Maziya SRC and Bashundhara Kings made their final practice sessions Sunday afternoon and evening respectively after addressing the official press conference at the same venue in the afternoon.
Addressing the press conference, Head Coach of Bashundhara Kings Oscar Bruzon said his team in seriously looking for a win, despite of some injuries.

Bashundhara Kings Brazilian captain and most reliable forward Robson Robinho is suffering from injuries and his participation in Monday's match is uncertain, alongside Ivorian booter Didier Brossou

Bashundhara Kings, which was placed in four-team Group D of the AFC Cup with Odisha FC and Mohun Bagan Club of India, and Maziya SRC of the Maldives, already played four matches.

Bangladesh champions Bashundhara Kings, which started with a 1-3 goals defeat against Maziya SRC, smartly bounced back in the race beating Odisha FC by 3-2 goals in their home match in Dhaka.

The Kings played 2-2 draw with Indian giant Mohun Bagan Club in their away match in Odisha last month and made a history with their first- ever victory against Kolkata Mohun Bagan Club beating them by 2-1 goals in the home match in Dhaka this month.

The Kings will play their next match, an away match with Odisha FC of India on December 11 at 8 pm Bangladesh time at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha

Each of the four Group D teams of the AFC Cup 2023-24, a 2nd-Tier Asian Continental Club Football Competition after AFC Champions League, are playing each other in a home-and-away round-robin format.

Later, the table toppers will progress to the AFC Cup inter-zone play-off semi-finals.

Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque