Wednesday, August 13, 2025

Sunde’s Goal Secures Bashundhara Kings’ Spot in AFC Challenge League Final Stage

on August 13, 2025

Bangladesh’s powerhouse Bashundhara Kings defeated Syrian club Al-Karamah 1-0 in the AFC Challenge League playoff on Tuesday night at Doha’s Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium. The sole goal was scored by Kings’ Nigerian forward Emmanuel Sunde, securing their place in the final stage of the Challenge League.

Kings took the lead in the 7th minute when Sunde, capitalizing on a corner kick, fired a diagonal shot through a crowded Al-Karamah box, which grazed the post before finding the net. Despite Al-Karamah’s aggressive response, they failed to breach Kings’ solid defense. Kings also missed several chances to double their lead.

In the 34th minute, Al-Karamah’s defense narrowly blocked a cross from Kings’ Rakib Hossain. In the 42nd minute, Rafael Augusto failed to convert a one-on-one opportunity with the goalkeeper. At the 66th minute, England’s former Sunderland U-21 midfielder Cuba Mitchell made his debut for Kings. Al-Karamah’s desperate late attacks were thwarted by Kings’ resolute defense, with goalkeeper Mehedi Hasan excelling in goal. On the same day, Bangladesh’s Abahani Limited was eliminated from the playoffs, losing 2-0 to Kyrgyzstan’s Muras United. Abahani has never advanced past the group stage in their five Challenge League appearances. Last season, Bashundhara Kings failed to win any of their three group-stage matches. This time, they played without a head coach after Brazilian coach Sérgio Farias, expected to join the team in Qatar, unexpectedly signed with Iraqi club Duhok SC. Assistant coach Mahabub Hossain led Kings from the dugout.
The tournament’s group stage will feature 20 teams, with 11 qualifying directly and 9 advancing through playoffs. The main stage will run from October 25, 2025, to May 9, 2026. Since its inception in 2005 as the AFC President’s Cup, Tajikistan’s Regar-TadAZ Tursunzoda has won the title three times, with Turkmenistan’s FK Arkadag as the current champions.

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