Mohun Bagan Super Giant has taken a firm stance with a clear focus on their AFC Champions League 2 campaign. The club has decided not to release its players for the upcoming national team camp.
Just a day earlier, on August 17, the Mariners were eliminated from the Durand Cup 2025 after suffering a 2-1 defeat against arch-rivals East Bengal in the Kolkata derby quarterfinal. With the ISL calendar still uncertain, the AFC stage remains their top priority, and this decision reflects the club’s intent to keep the squad fully focused and fit for the competition.
Mohun Bagan are in Group C alongside Sepahan SC (IR Iran), Al Hussein SC (Jordan) and Ahal FC (Turkmenistan). Their first match of the competition is on September 16 against Ahal FC in Kolkata.
One of the key reasons behind this step is injury prevention. Last season, Sahal Abdul Samad and Manvir Singh returned from national duties with injuries, which created problems for the club. This year, with regular captain Subhasish Bose still recovering, Bagan appears determined to avoid further setbacks by restricting players from national duty.
India’s men’s senior team, now under the guidance of new head coach Khalid Jamil, faces its first challenge in the CAFA Nations Cup later this month. Placed in Group B with Afghanistan, Iran, and Tajikistan, the Blue Tigers will open their campaign against Tajikistan on August 29 at the Hisor Central Stadium. Preparations have already begun in Bengaluru, where several players have joined the camp and trained under Jamil.
However, Mohun Bagan’s decision means seven national team members will not be available: Anirudh Thapa, Deepak Tangri, Lalengmawia, Liston Colaco, Manvir Singh, Sahal Abdul Samad, and Vishal Kaith. With most of them being first-choice players, Jamil will face a major headache in assembling a competitive squad.
Although there is an international window from September 1 to 9, the Mariners are firm in their stance. They argue that representing the club at the AFC stage is also a matter of national pride since they are competing for India at the continental level.
The impact of this decision could extend beyond the senior team. The India U23 side, preparing for the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 qualifiers in Qatar from September 3 to 9, might also face issues. Four Mohun Bagan players — Dippendu Biswas, Suhail Ahmad Bhat, Priyansh Dubey, and Tekcham Abhishek Singh — are part of the U23 setup. Whether they, too, will be withheld from national duties remains to be seen.
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