Soumya seals it; East Bengal through
AFC confirms the IWL champions top Group A with maximum points; AIFF says it’s back-to-back Group Stage for the first time by an Indian club.
East Bengal topped Preliminary Group A with three wins and advanced to the AFC Women’s Champions League Group Stage.
East Bengal FC handled the job the way it should be done: a 2–0 win over Sabah FA at Likas Stadium, Kota Kinabalu, on Sunday took them straight into the AFC Women’s Champions League 2026/27 Group Stage. The AFC report records second‑half goals from Olivia Anokye and Telangana’s own Soumya Guguloth, who finished it in the 87th minute after Anokye’s opener on 67'.
The confederation lists East Bengal top of Preliminary Group A with maximum points, which is the rule that matters here — first place goes through. The All India Football Federation adds that this is East Bengal’s second successive Group Stage, the first time an Indian club has done it, after earlier wins over Rajshahi Stars (4–0) and Rovers (12–0).
Malaysia’s RTM quoted Sabah coach Bobby Gonzales conceding the obvious: they lost to the better team. The Group Stage draw is next; the politics can wait — the scoreboard already did the talking.