Three April 25 SC players to watch as East Bengal prepare for AFC Women's Champions League Group B decider
East Bengal FC will face DPR Korean side April 25 SC in the final Group B match of the AFC Women’s Champions League 2026-27 at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan on November 7, with the fixture taking place in Kolkata on that date. The contest will decide East Bengal’s fate in the group while April 25 aim to extend an unbeaten run in the competition.
April 25 SC enter the game as the defending champions of the DPR Korean Women’s League and have not lost in five matches of the 2026-27 AFC Women’s Champions League so far. Placed in Pot 2 for the preliminary stage, they were drawn with College of Asian Scholars, S’Amuser and Kharaatsai, where they won all three matches, scoring 29 goals and conceding one to top their section and reach the group stage. In Kolkata they have won both group matches to date, netting eight goals and conceding one, which leaves them top of Group B. East Bengal began their group campaign with a 2-1 victory over Ho Chi Minh City but suffered a 4-1 defeat to Hwacheon KSPO WFC, meaning a win or a draw against April 25 would secure their progression to the knockout rounds while avoiding a heavy loss could still leave qualification dependent on other results.
Centre-back Pok-Yong combines defensive work with a threat at set-pieces; she has scored in both of April 25’s group-stage matches in this campaign. The report describes her as a clean, composed defender who plays out from the back with accurate long passes, records a high number of interceptions and clearances, and maintains disciplined defensive actions. Pok-Yong also started and played a key role in North Korea’s run to the final of the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, where her team lost to Spain on penalties.
Kong-Ryan has been influential from midfield through her set-piece delivery and crossing ability, registering four assists across April 25’s two group games. She has appeared as a substitute in both matches and played roughly 60 minutes in total while creating approximately eight chances in that limited time. Against Ho Chi Minh City she completed all 35 of her attempted passes for a 100% passing accuracy and the source notes her adaptability across box-to-box, attacking and defensive midfield roles alongside a strong work rate, endurance and tenacity; she also scored at the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup against Argentina and Costa Rica.
Sin Pom-Hyang operates across the left flank as a midfielder, attacking midfielder or winger and contributed five goals during the preliminary stage, scoring in each of the three matches. While her crossing and attacking output have been limited in the group stage so far, the source highlights her capacity for off-the-ball runs, scoring crucial goals and playing line-breaking passes, and warns that she can convert a single strike into multiple goals as she did in the preliminary round.
April 25 SC are managed by former North Korean international Kim Kwang-min. The fixture is due to kick off at 08:00 PM IST on November 7, with the result set to determine East Bengal’s qualification prospects from Group B.