Three East Bengal players to watch against Ho Chi Minh City in AFC Women’s Champions League opener

East Bengal Women will face Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC in the Group B opener of the AFC Women’s Champions League (AWCL) 2026–27 Group Stage at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on November 1, 2026, with kick-off at 8PM IST. The match is the Indian champions’ first group-stage fixture in the tournament.

Group B will be hosted in Kolkata from November 1 to 7, and East Bengal have been drawn alongside Ho Chi Minh City WFC, Hwacheon KSPO WFC and DPR Korean side 4.25 SC. The Moshal Girls secured their place in the group stage for a second consecutive year by winning their preliminary-round group in Malaysia and will attempt to reach the competition’s quarterfinals for the first time. Ho Chi Minh City WFC enter as the reigning Vietnamese Women’s League champions and bring continental experience to the fixture.

Fazila Ikwaput is expected to provide East Bengal’s primary attacking threat; the Ugandan international scored 20 goals for East Bengal Women in the 2025-26 Indian Women’s League, finished as the league’s top scorer and won the Best Striker award. East Bengal will look to rely on her goal-scoring ability to convert chances against the Vietnamese champions.

Soumya Guguloth offers a different attacking dimension for head coach Anthony Andrews, with the Indian international able to carry the ball forward, link play and create scoring opportunities. Her movement in wide areas could stretch Ho Chi Minh City’s defensive line and create space for Ikwaput to operate in central positions, providing a combination the Moshal Girls may seek to exploit.

Panthoi Chanu will be central to East Bengal’s defensive plans as goalkeeper; she kept three clean sheets in three preliminary-stage matches and has been described as consistent and composed between the posts. Her communication with defenders, command of the penalty area and shot-stopping in key moments could be decisive if the Vietnamese side create clear chances.

The Group B opener between East Bengal Women and Ho Chi Minh City WFC will be streamed live on the FanCode App. For further coverage and updates, the original report directs readers to follow Khel Now on its social channels and apps.