Mumbai City drawn in Group D of 2023-24 AFC Champions League
Mumbai City FC have been drawn in Group D of the 2023-24 AFC Champions League along with Al Hilal SFC (Saudi Arabia), Nassaji Mazandaran (Iran) and Navbahor (Uzbekistan) at the Group Stage Draw that took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Thursday, August 24. 40 teams were drawn in 10 groups of four teams each at the draws, with five groups (A-E) in the West Region and five groups (F-J) in the East Region.
🚨 #ACL 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗗𝗿𝗮𝘄 🚨#TheIslanders have been drawn into Group D along with Al Hilal 🇸🇦, Nassaji Mazandaran 🇮🇷 and Navbahor 🇺🇿 in @TheAFCCL Group Stage! ✅#IslandersInAsia #AamchiCity 🔵 pic.twitter.com/Unxat2vDF6
— Mumbai City FC (@MumbaiCityFC) August 24, 2023
Mumbai City FC secured their second appearance in Asia’s biggest club football competition after lifting the 2022-23 Indian Super League Winners’ Shield and then subsequently defeating 2021-22 ISL Shield Winners Jamshedpur FC 3-1 in a single-leg playoff in April 2023.
#InsideIslanders | #ACL Group Stage Draw 🌟
📹 Watch how #TheIslanders went from anticipation to elation as they sat down to witness the 2023-24 AFC Champions League Group Stage Draw together 🩵#IslandersInAsia #AamchiCity 🔵 pic.twitter.com/u6mMbKe0AH
— Mumbai City FC (@MumbaiCityFC) August 24, 2023
The Islanders created history in their maiden AFC Champions League appearance in April 2022 after finishing second in Group B behind Saudi Arabian club Al Shabab, narrowly missing out on a spot in the knockout rounds. Des Buckingham’s side secured two wins in the process – both against Iraq’s Air Force Club – and became the first Indian club to win a game at the AFC Champions League. Fixtures will be announced by the AFC shortly.
“We’ll be representing our club and our region but more importantly, we'll be representing Indian Football” 💪
The boss Des Buckingham shares his thoughts following #TheIslanders’ #ACL Group Stage Draw 🗣️#IslandersInAsia #MumbaiCity #AamchiCity 🔵 @DesBuckingham pic.twitter.com/uUi3Z5PE6d
— Mumbai City FC (@MumbaiCityFC) August 24, 2023
Des Buckingham, Head Coach – Mumbai City FC said:
“The teams in the AFC Champions League, they’re the best in their own country. As coaches and players, we always want to test ourselves against the best. It’s a wonderful opportunity for us to continue what we did last time around and to showcase what Indian football can do on that stage. We’re looking forward to giving a good account of ourselves against the likes of Al Hilal, Nassaji and Navbahor – some of the best clubs in Asia – and represent not just Mumbai but Indian football as a whole in the best way possible.”
We can’t wait! 💪🩵🇮🇳#IslandersInAsia #ACL #AamchiCity 🔵 https://t.co/ZDqj5Mwhsl
— Mumbai City FC (@MumbaiCityFC) August 24, 2023
Kandarp Chandra, CEO – Mumbai City FC said:
“All of us at Mumbai City FC were very proud of what we achieved in the 2022 AFC Champions League. Now in our second appearance, we have an opportunity to build on it. Des, his staff and the squad are focused on what will be an exciting and challenging season ahead and we hope we can put up a strong showing in front of our fans against some of Asia’s best clubs.”
This was all of us after the #ACL Draws! 🤩🤩#ISL #LetsFootball #MumbaiCityFC pic.twitter.com/zpvvqgnMPv
— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) August 24, 2023