Abahani to play in AFC Cup

Federation Cup champions Abahani have been given the opportunity to take part in the 2017 AFC Cup as the champions of ongoing Bangladesh Premier League has not been decided yet.

The four-time professional league champions were placed in Group E along with last edition's runners-up Bengaluru FC or East Bengal, Maziyya S&R of Maldives and another team who will come through a play-off round. The draw took place in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday. 

“We sought time till completion of the ongoing league to send the name of the champions, but the AFC did not want to wait till December 29. So the AFC asked us to send the name of Federation Cup champions,” BFF general secretary Abu Nayeem explained as the reasoning behind Abahani's selection for the tournament.

This time the AFC has revamped the tournament format, spitting Asia into five zones. Abahani were given a direct entry to group stages from the south zone.