Mumbai City FC has already secured their AFC Champions League berth, but India’s two remaining spots for the AFC Cup 2023-24 are still up for grabs.
The contenders for these two remaining spots in the 2023-24 AFC Cup are Gokulam Kerala, Odisha FC, Hyderabad FC, and Mohun Bagan.
While Hyderabad FC will square off against Mohun Bagan for a berth in the preliminary round of the AFC Cup, Odisha FC will lock horns with Gokulam Kerala for direct entry into the AFC Cup group stage on Saturday, April 29. The match will begin at 7:00 PM IST.
After a decent ISL 2022-23 campaign which saw them qualify for the playoffs for the first time ever, Odisha FC qualified for their AFC Cup 2023 group stage playoff qualifier against Gokulam Kerala by beating Bengaluru FC and winning the 2023 Super Cup.
The Kalinga Warriors enjoyed a great Super Cup campaign, winning four matches and drawing once en route to a 2-1 triumph over Bengaluru FC in the final courtesy of a Diego Mauricio brace.
With their first-ever silverware now in the trophy cabinet, Odisha FC will be confident about beating Gokulam Kerala to earn a historic spot for themselves in the AFC Cup 2023-24.
Getting past Gokulam Kerala, though, will be easier said than done. Lest we forget, they are 2021-22 I-League Champions and have proven themselves to be capable of going toe-to-toe with any team in the past.
Gokulam Kerala will take on Odisha FC with local support on their side since the match will be played at the EMS Corporation Stadium in Kozhikode. Head coach Clifford Miranda will guide Odisha FC, while Gokulam Kerala’s head coach is Francesc Bonet.
Where to watch Gokulam Kerala vs Odisha FC in AFC Cup 2023 group stage playoff qualifier live in India?
Live streaming of Gokulam Kerala vs Odisha FC in AFC Cup 2023 group stage playoff qualifier will be available on the FanCode app and website.
Live telecast of Gokulam Kerala vs Odisha FC in AFC Cup 2023 group stage playoff qualifier can be viewed on the Sony Sports 2 and Sony Sports 2 HD TV channels in India.
Photo credit: Alamy