Abahani, Mohammedan in same group of IPL-styled Federation Cup

Country's footballing rivals Abahani and Mohammedan were pitted in the same group of the 36th Federation Cup, which also unveiled a format styled after the Indian Premier League, at a draw ceremony at the BFF House in Motijheel on Wednesday.

Defending champions Bashundhara Kings will play against promoted Dhaka Wanderers in the opening match at Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium in Cumilla on December 23 while the final match will take place on May 2, 2025. Bashundhara Kings Arena in Dhaka and Rafique Uddin Bhuiyan Stadium in Mymensingh are the two other venues of the 10-team event.

It is the third time in last five seasons that the two popular outfits have been placed in the same group. However, the Sky Blues will be playing without foreign players this season, which will get underway on Friday with the newly-introduced Challenge Cup between Bashundhara Kings and Mohammedan.

Mohammedan manager Imtiaz Ahmed Nakib believes Abahani will get out of the five-team group despite not having any foreign player.

"It is always interesting to be in the same group with Abahani, who I think will play well with local players. I hope they will take foreign players in the mid-term window," Nakib said, adding that they have a strong squad with a couple of foreign players alongside some proven local campaigners who led the team to runners-up position in last edition.

Abahani manager Satyjit Das Rupu also believes that Abahani are capable of performing well in the Federation Cup, a tournament they won 14 times against Mohammedan's 11.

"Abahani always play for titles. This time there will be no exception. We believe we have a team to get out the group stage and play in the final," said Rupu.

BFF' Professional League Management Committee chairman and senior vice-president Imrul Hassan thinks the tournament will be competitive like last season despite the absence of Sheikh Jamal DC and Sheikh Russel KC.

"Yes, Abahani are comparatively weaker than last season but their local collection is very good. Teams like Mohammedan, Brothers, Chittagong Abahani are stronger this time, so I think the tournament will not lose its attraction," Hassan said.

The league committee also brought change to the tournament format – designing it like the IPL -- with 10 teams split into two groups and playing round robin matches. The top two teams from each group will advance to the qualification round instead of semifinals. The two group champions will square off and the winners will advance to the final while losers will play against the winners between two group runners-up for a place in the final.

Group A: Bashundhara Kings, Bangladesh Police, Fortis FC, Brothers Union, Dhaka Wanderers Club

Group B: Mohammedan, Abahani, Chittagong Abahani, Rahmatganj MFS, Fakirerpool Young Mens Club