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I-League champions Churchill Brothers have been drawn in Group E of the AFC Cup alongside Indonesian champions Persipura Jayapura, Singapore Cup winners Home United and Maldives double winners New Radiant.
Pune FC will also have to play in the AFC Cup if they fail to qualify for the AFC Champions League (ACL) group stage and the I-League runners-up were drawn in Group H along with Kitchee of Hong Kong, Singapore’s S-League champions Tampines Rovers and Myanmar league runners-up Nay Pyi Taw.
Like Pune, Tampines Rovers are also playing in the ACL qualifying playoff stage and if they progress to the group stage, their place will be taken by Balestier Khalsa. In case Pune FC make it to the ACL group stage, they will be replaced by 2013 AFC Cup semi-finalists East Bengal.
Just like last season, the participating teams were divided into two zones – West and East- with Indian sides being in the latter of course and thus once again they will fancy their chances of making it to the knockout stage as they are up against clubs from south-east Asia.
Churchill Brothers will be appearing in the AFC Cup for the third time while Pune FC could be making their debut. East Bengal, whose hopes depend on Pune, have featured in every edition since 2010.
Group E: Persipura Jayapura (Indonesia), Home United (Singapore), New Radiant (Maldives), Churchill Brothers
Group H: Tampines Rovers or Balestier Khalsa (Singapore), Nay Pyi Taw (Myanmar), Pune FC or East Bengal, Kitchee (Hong Kong)
Other groups
GROUP AA1. Suwaiq (OMN) or Saham (OMN)A2. That Ras Club (JOR)A3. Safa (LIB)A4. Winner of Playoff 1 ** 02/02/14 Ravshan (TJK) v Yarmouk (YEM)
GROUP BB1. Kuwait SC (KUW) or Al Arabi (KUW)B2. Fanja (OMN)B3. Al Jaish (SYR)B4. Nejmeh (LIB)
GROUP CC1. Al Hidd (BHR)) or Manama (BHR)C2. Al Qadsia (KUW) or Nasaf (KUW)C3. Al Shorta (IRQ) v Air Force (IRQ)C4. Al Wahda (SYR)
GROUP DD1. Shabab Ordon (JOR) or Wehdat (JOR)D2. Riffa (BHR)D3. Winner of Playoff 2 *D4. Arbil (IRQ)* 02/02/14 Shabab Al-Dhahiriya SC (PLE) v FC Alay Osh (KGZ)
GROUP FF1. Ha Noi T&T (VIE) or SHB Da Nang (VIE)F2. Arema Indonesia (IDN)F3. Selangor (MAS)F4. Maziya S&R (MDV)
GROUP GG1. Yangon United (MYA)G2. XM Vissai Ninh Binh (VIE)G3. South China or Pegasus (HKG)G4. Kelantan (MAS)
