Indian football: Odisha FC to face Gokulam Kerala for a spot in the 2023-24 AFC Cup

Gokulam Kerala FC will take on Odisha FC in the Club Playoffs for a place in the group stage of the AFC Cup 2023-24. Gokulam Kerala FC have qualified for the playoffs on the basis of having won the I-League in 2021-22. Odisha FC, meanwhile, are in contention having won the recently concluded Super Cup. The playoff game will be played at the EMS Corporation Stadium at 7:00 PM on Saturday, April 29.

For Odisha FC, the game is a perfect chance to end the season in which the club won its first piece of silverware. For a team that finished sixth in the Indian Super League, a victory will guarantee a first-ever foray into Asian competition.

Explained: Here’s why playoff matches for AFC Champions League and AFC Cup are being played

“We came here to Kozhikode with a set objective,” said coach Clifford Miranda.

“And that objective kept evolving game by game, from March 16 when we got here, to today. Yes, we won the Super Cup, but that was in the past. The players recognise that. I recognise that. We start again, from zero. What happened over the past few weeks won’t matter once we step on to the pitch. We start all over...

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