Abahani and Mohammedan, the titans of Bangladeshi football, have once again been thrown together in the same group of the 36th Federation Cup. This year's tournament, modelled on the Indian Premier League, promises a thrilling ride, with matches scheduled across the country.
While the defending champions, Bashundhara Kings, kick off the tournament against Dhaka Wanderers, all eyes will be on the clash between Abahani and Mohammedan. This will be their third meeting in the group stage in the last five years, but this time, Abahani will be without their foreign players. Despite this handicap, Mohammedan, buoyed by their strong squad, are confident of progressing.
The tournament's new format is expected to add a fresh dimension to the competition. With 10 teams divided into two groups, the top two from each group will advance to the qualification round, leading to a thrilling climax.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the qualification round, replacing the traditional semi-finals. The group champions will face off, with the winners advancing to the final, while the losers will compete against the winners of the group runners-up for a place in the final. This new structure promises to add an extra layer of excitement and unpredictability to the competition.
While the absence of some traditional powerhouses like Sheikh Jamal DC and Sheikh Russel KC might raise concerns, the remaining teams, including Brothers and Chittagong Abahani, are capable of surprising everyone. The competition is set to be fierce, and it remains to be seen who will emerge victorious.
