AFC Women's Champions League Preview: Odisha FC to script history in Vietnam

Odisha FC Women's team will be India’s first club to compete in the main draw of the newly introduced AFC Women’s Champions League from October 6 to 12 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Under the leadership of head coach Crispin Chhetri, the team will be fighting for a spot in the quarterfinals on their debut, aiming to script a new chapter in Indian women's football history.

Entering the tournament with a six-match winning streak, Odisha FC has scored an impressive total of 21 goals in those matches. They hope to build on this momentum and start the tournament on a high note.

However, the team faces a tough challenge in their opener against title contenders Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies of Japan on October 6.

At the pre-match press conference on Saturday, Crispin Chhetri and goalkeeper Shreya Hooda shared their thoughts on the upcoming match against Urawa Red.

Crispin Chhetri expressed his admiration for the Japanese champions, stating, "The opponent team is very strong; they are champions. We come into this tournament with an open mind, ready to learn and grow—as individuals, as a team, and for Indian football as a whole. We are glad to be here and hope to gain valuable knowledge from this experience."

Goalkeeper Shreya Hooda echoed the excitement, saying, "I’m very happy to be part of this tournament, especially as the first Indian women’s team to participate. We feel proud to be here, and we are well-prepared. Our focus is on taking it one game at a time. It feels good to face such a high-caliber team like Urawa. We are all set for tomorrow’s game."

Road to history

Odisha FC secured their place in the preliminary stage of the inaugural AFC Women’s Champions League after winning their maiden domestic title at the Indian Women’s League (IWL) last season.

The team demonstrated solid gameplay in the preliminary round, topping their group to qualify for the main draw by winning both their matches against Lion City FC (Singapore) and Etihad Club (Jordan).

Format

The main draw of the AFC Women’s Champions League 2024-25 season features 12 clubs, evenly divided into three groups based on FIFA women's world rankings.

Odisha FC's women's team has been placed in Group C, alongside Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies from Japan, Taichung Blue Whale from Chinese Taipei, and Hồ Chí Minh City, the host club from Vietnam.

All clubs will compete against each other in a single-legged group stage format at a centralized venue.

The top two finishers from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, will advance to the quarterfinals.

Odisha FC's AWCL Group Stage Squad:

Goalkeepers: Shreya Hooda, Anjali Barke, Ganjhu Manju, Aisha Ghatualo

Defenders: Arifa Zaheer, Kretina Sangma, Ibrahim Maryam, Nimita Gurung, Kaajal, Nishka Parkash, Sulekha Kanhar

Midfielders: Kajol D'Souza, Kiran Pisda, Bannya Kabiraj, Munica Minz

Forwards: Jennifer Kankam, Serto Lynda Kom, Malati Munda, Neha Sillay, Aishwarya Jagtap

Schedule

October 6 - Odisha FC (IND) Vs Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) - 1:30 PM IST

October 9 - Odisha FC (IND) Vs Hồ Chí Minh City (VIE) - 5:30 PM IST

October 12 - Odisha FC (IND) Vs Taichung Blue Whale (TPE) - 1:30 PM IST

Know Your Rivals

Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN):

This Japanese national club champion is one of the most formidable opponents of the Indian team.

They are the reigning champions of the previous format of this event, the AFC Women’s Club Championship.

Urawa comes into the tournament in excellent form, having won three of their last five matches.

Recently, they also dominated the Indonesian women's national team with an impressive 18-1 scoreline in a friendly.

Hồ Chí Minh City (VIE): The hosts are entering the tournament after winning their domestic title in Vietnam for the sixth consecutive year, and they will look to leverage their home advantage.

Making their debut at the continental club championships, Hồ Chí Minh City will be a formidable force, boasting several national team players in their squad.

Taichung Blue Whale (TPE): The club from Taipei boasts an impressive eight-match unbeaten run in their domestic league and benefits from valuable match practice, as their domestic season is still underway.

Taichung Blue Whale will be competing in their second Asian club football competition, having finished as the runner-up in the East Asian region in 2022.

Live Streaming

The group stage of the AFC Women's Champions League will be live-streamed on the streaming channel of the Fancode app and website.