Forca Kochi FC v Malappuram FC: Super League Kerala 2026 preview, team news and lineups
Forca Kochi FC and Malappuram FC meet at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on September 27, 2026, in a Super League Kerala 2026 fixture scheduled to kick off at 7:30 PM IST; the match is part of the third season of the competition. The clash concludes the matchday one schedule for the tournament.
Forca Kochi return to Kochi after a season away and enter the new campaign with mixed history in the Super League Kerala: they finished as runners-up in the inaugural season but had a poor 2025, losing almost all their matches and ending at the bottom of the table, which has made early points and a top-four finish clear objectives. Malappuram FC have come close to winning the title in previous editions but have not secured silverware; they began the first season well before fading and failing to make the playoffs, then remained consistent last season before succumbing in the semi-finals. The club has been one of the most active in the transfer window and undergone a complete revamp, with the stated objective for this campaign described as nothing less than winning the title.
Both teams reportedly have no major injury concerns ahead of the meeting, giving managers the option to field their preferred starting elevens. Published squad lists in the preview read: Debjit Majumder (GK); Nithin Madhu, Renan Araujo Rocha, Ajay Alex, Mohammed Salah; Eliton Junior, Nahuel Pereyra, Jishnu P; Sangeeth Satheesh, Paulo Henrique, Vishnu CV. Devansh Dabas (GK); Nithin Madhu, Abdul Hakku Nediyodath, Mashoor Shereef, Harikrishnan M; Bongani Zungu, Abdelhay Elforsy, Rishad PP; Grace-Adieu Youmou, Amadou Soukona, Akbar Sidhique.
Forca Kochi’s player to watch is identified as 21-year-old winger Sangeeth Satheesh, who emerged as one of the club’s best performers in Super League Kerala 2025 after being scouted through the ‘Project Gamechanger’ initiative and signed ahead of that season. The preview notes that Sangeeth began the last season on the bench before becoming a regular starter, and despite Forca Kochi’s disappointing team results in 2025 he delivered an overall excellent individual performance; the report adds, "If Sangeeth could continue at the same level of performance he displayed in the Super League Kerala 2026, he could potentially be one player to keep an eye on this season."
Malappuram’s focal attacking threat is named as Amadou Soukona, described in the preview as a French-Malian striker who previously showcased his goalscoring touch in Indian football with Rajasthan United and in Europe with Ligue 1 side Toulouse FC. The piece describes Soukona’s attributes as hold-up play, aerial ability and link-up play with the wingers, and it highlights his movement inside the box and composure in key moments as factors that will be important for Malappuram when attempting to break down organised defences.
Broadcast details provided in the preview state that fans across India can watch Super League Kerala 2026 matches digitally on ZEE5 with linear coverage on Unite8 Sports, and viewers in the UAE can follow the competition on Etisalat. The preview also advises readers to follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, or via the Khel Now Android and iOS apps, and to join the community on WhatsApp and Telegram for updates.
The fixture serves as the final match of matchday one in Super League Kerala 2026 and will take place at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi, on September 27, 2026, with a 7:30 PM IST kick-off as listed in the published preview.