Chennaiyin FC to play AFC Cup group stage matches in Ahmedabad
ISL club Chennaiyin FC will open its 2019 AFC Cup campaign against former I-League champion Minerva Punjab followed by clashes against Nepal's Manang Marshyangdi Club, Bangladesh's Abahani Limited Dhaka at the The Arena by TransStadia, Ahmedabad
Published : Mar 24, 2019 20:21 IST
Former Indian Super League (ISL) champion Chennaiyin FC will be playing the home fixtures of its 2019 AFC Cup group stage at The Arena by TransStadia, Ahmedabad, the club confirmed on Sunday.
Chennaiyin played the home leg of its two-legged qualifying playoff against Colombo FC in Ahmedabad as playing a Sri Lankan opponent in Tamil Nadu was not politically conducive.
The ISL side will face Nepal's Manang Marshyangdi Club, Bangladesh's Abahani Limited Dhaka including the opening leg against last season's I-League champion Minerva Punjab for supremacy in the Group E.
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The club had requested for permission from SDAT (Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu) to host the group stage matches at Chennai. But by the time the approvals were received from SDAT, significant financial commitments were made by the club towards The Arena by TransStadia and in order to fulfill those obligations the club will play the home games of the group stage in Ahmedabad.
The club stated that it will make no further comment on the recent development.
Confirmed fixture schedule for AFC Cup group stage matches (Group E):
Matchday 1 – Wednesday, 3 April - Chennaiyin FC (IND) v Minerva Punjab (IND), The Arena Stadium, Ahmedabad – 7:30 PM Matchday 2 – Wednesday 17 April 2019 – Chennaiyin FC (IND) v Manang Marshyangdi Club (NEP), The Arena Stadium, Ahmedabad – 7:30 PM Matchday 3 – Tuesday 30 April 2019 – Chennaiyin FC (IND) v Abahani Limited Dhaka (BAN), The Arena Stadium, Ahmedabad – 7:30 PM Matchday 4 – Wednesday 15 May 2019 – Abahani Limited Dhaka (BAN) v Chennaiyin FC (IND), Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka, Bangladesh – 7 PM Matchday 5 – Wednesday 19 June 2019 – Minerva Punjab (IND) v Chennaiyin FC (IND), Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar– 6:30 PM Matchday 6 – Wednesday 26 June 2019 – Manang Marshyangdi Club (NEP) v Chennaiyin FC (IND) , ANFA Complex, Kathmandu, Nepal – TBD |