FC Goa will face FC Arkadag in a singleโleg qualifier for the AFC Champions League Two group stage. Ex-India defender Gouramangi Singh will debut as head coach after Goa earned their playoff spot by winning the AIFF Super Cup last season.
AIFF Super Cup winners FC Goa will take on Turkmenistanโs FC Arkadag in a single-leg qualifying match for the AFC Champions League Two group stage on Wednesday.
It will be a trial by fire for the former India defender Gouramangi Singh, who will be the head coach for the first time for FC Goa, who are playing the ACL Two playoff by virtue of winning the AIFF Super Cup last season.
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Gouramangi has been an assistant coach of FC Goa for the last two seasons, and the contest will be a stern test for The Gaurs as the winner will make the group stage in the tournament. The losing side will be demoted to the secondary AFC Challenge League.
Coached by Mergen Orazov, FC Arkadag have been a dominant side in Turkmenistanโs Yokary Liga, winning three consecutive championships since their inception in 2023.
In fact, FC Arkadag, who have some of the best players of the country in their ranks, have not even dropped a single point so far, having won all 82 league matches in their history. They had also won the inaugural AFC Challenge League in 2025.
FC Arkadag will look to make the most of playing at home and in front of their home crowd while relying on their key players Didar Durdyyew and Altymyrat Annadurdiyev.
More from Football NewsLast season, FC Arkadag reached the knockout stages of the ACL Two, wherein they were knocked out by Al-Nassr.
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On their part, FC Goa are with a depleted squad, with some top players of last season having left the club. They are also not with their full quota of foreign players.
The AFC had confirmed that all 25 teams, including 13 from the East region and 13 from the West, have been guaranteed direct entry to the group stage of the ACL Two.