Central Zone AFC Cup Preliminary Stage First Legs
Date: February 7, 2017
Fixture: Balkan FC v Dordoi FC
Venue: Sport Toplumy, Balkanabat
First Leg: AFC Cup Preliminary Stage 1st Leg (Central): Dordoi FC 1-1 Balkan FC
Winners of the AFC President’s Cup in 2013, Turkmenistan side Balkan FC made three appearances in the AFC Cup from 2004 to 2007 but missed out on the Group Stage in 2016 after losing 2-0 to Al Wahda of Syria in the Play-offs. They are taking part in the Play-offs again in 2017 after finishing runners-up to Altyn Asyr in the Turkmenistan league last year.
Two-time winners of the AFC President’s Cup, Dordoi FC, Kyrgyz Republic’s most successful club with nine league titles, qualified for this stage of the AFC Cup qualifiers by finishing top of Group A in the competition’s Play-off qualifiers. They finished runners-up to FC Alay in the league in 2016 but beat them 1-0 in the Kyrgyzstan Cup final.
Date: February 7, 2017
Fixture: FC Hosilot v Shaheen Asmayee
Venue: Republican Central Stadium, Dushanbe
First Leg: AFC Cup Preliminary Stage 1st Leg (Central): Shaheen Asmayee 0-1 FC Hosilot
FC Hosilot qualified for the AFC Cup playoffs for the first time after a solid season in 2016 in which they were runners-up in the Tajik League and narrowly lost the Tajik Cup final in a penalty shootout to FC Istiklol.
Formed in 2012, Kabul-based Shahheen Asmayee have dominated the Afghan Premier League in recent years, winning the title for the third time in four seasons in 2016. They are the first Afghan side to qualify for this stage of the AFC Cup.
South Zone AFC Cup Preliminary Stage First Legs
Date: January 31, 2017
Fixture: Mohun Bagan v Colombo FC
Venue: Rabindra Sarobar Stadium, Kolkata
First Leg: AFC Cup Preliminary Stage 1st Leg (South): Colombo FC 1-2 Mohun Bagan
Mohun Bagan qualified for the 2017 AFC Cup after they lifted the Indian Federation Cup for a record 14th time in 2016 with a 5-0 trouncing of Aizawl in the final. The Kolkata club, which was founded in 1889, reached the last 16 of the AFC Cup last year but lost 2-1 after extra-time to Singapore’s Tampines Rovers.
Colombo FC are the first Sri Lankan club to take part in the AFC Cup Play-offs after they pipped Renown Sports Club on goal difference to win the Sri Lanka Football Premier League for the first time in 2015.
Date: February 7, 2017
Fixture: Club Valencia v Thimpu City FC
Venue: National Stadium, Male
First Leg: AFC Cup Preliminary Stage 1st Leg (South): Thimphu City FC 0-0 Club Valencia
After struggling in the 2016 Divehi Premier League and narrowly avoiding relegation, Club Valencia earned a spot in the AFC Cup by beating TC Sports Club to win a fifth Maldives FA Cup title. They have appeared in the AFC Cup three times before (2004, 2005 and 2009) but have yet to get past the Group Stage.
Formed in 2011, Thimphu City enjoyed their best season to date in 2016 as they topped the Thimphu League before edging Druk United by two points to win the Bhutan League for the first time. They are the first club from Bhutan to earn a spot in this stage of the AFC Cup.