Abahani want to host Eagles in early May

Abahani has officially proposed the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for the rights to host Club Eagles in AFC Cup playoff match in Dhaka between May 5 and 7 after Maldives expressed its inability to host two playoff matches among Abahani, Eagles and Bengaluru FC on May 8 and 11.

Due to the current lockdown, Abahani failed to host the Maldivian outfit on April 14 in Dhaka and their initiative to arrange that match at a neutral venue on April 21 also did not materialise due to travel restrictions.

Later the AFC asked Abahani whether they can play the match against Eagles in India as the winners of that match will face Bengaluru FC, but Abahani informed AFC about the travel restrictions and closure of Indian Embassy in Dhaka.

"AFC proposed FC Eagles to arrange those two matches in Maldives in May as the winners of three teams will join in group phase matches to be held in Maldives (from May 14-20) but the Maldives Football Association could not obtain necessary permission from its government," BFF's general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag said yesterday.

"Considering everything, Abahnai has expressed their desire to host Eagles on any day between May 5 and 7," Shohag said. "If the ongoing lockdown is extended by another week, we will communicate with the ministries concerned to arrange the match and provide assistance to FC Eagles for coming to Dhaka but they must adhere to Covid-19 guidelines and spend a minimum quarantine period."