FC Goa will kick off their AFC Champions League 2 campaign at their home ground, the Fatorda Stadium, against Al-Zawraa on September 17, 2025. In Group D, both these teams are placed alongside Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr and Istiklol.
However, the ISL side could, reportedly, be without their leader and star Indian defender Sandesh Jhingan, who recently underwent successful surgery for a broken cheekbone. He sustained the injury while playing for India against Iran in the CAFA Nations Cup.
Despite his absence, Jhingan believes this tournament is a huge opportunity for the club. Speaking in an exclusive interview with RevSportz, he explained that qualifying for the AFC competitions was always the team’s main goal.
“When I joined three years back, most of us were of the same batch and the initial conversation was to do good in ISL,” Jhingan told RevSportz. “Being a good club with a history, target was to get back where it belongs. But the main subject was that the club wants to do good in the AFC and leave a mark.”
Last season, FC Goa lifted the Super Cup, defeating Jamshedpur FC in the final. That win earned them a spot in the AFC Champions League 2 prelims. They went on to beat Al Seeb Club to qualify for the 2025–26 AFC Champions League 2 group stage.
Jhingan expressed pride in reaching this stage and spoke about the responsibility of representing India at the continental level.
“We did that and qualified in the next season. Being in a Champions League now gives us immense pride and the responsibility of representing India at the continental level. Not just for Mohun Bagan, not just for us, for everyone in this group – we all want to go on to the knockout rounds and as far as possible, knowing that it is going to be tough. If God is willing, we will achieve our targets,” he said.
For More Exciting Artices: Follow RevSportz