The stage is set, the whistle poised, and the turf at the National Stadium in Dhaka ready to witness the curtain-raiser of the AFC Challenge League 2025-26 West Region this (Tuesday) evening, as Bangladesh’s Abahani Limited Dhaka takes on Kyrgyzstan’s FC Muras United at 5:00 pm (BST).

On the eve of the encounter, both sides traded cautious optimism at a pre-match briefing held at the BFF House in Motijheel, Dhaka.
Muras United head coach Puchkov Sergiy, taking the reins of the fledgling club established just two years ago, made it clear his men had come to Dhaka with business on their minds.

“We are very serious. Playing in this competition for the first time, we came prepared.”
“…Uzbekistan clubs have good memories against Abahani. We will give our best to do better and continue our legacy,” he said.

Sergiy, who has steered Muras for a year now, credited their place in the tournament to strong domestic performances, backed by a blend of local talent and seasoned foreign recruits. He acknowledged that playing in front of a partisan home crowd could crank up the pressure, yet remained unfazed.

“We’ve played plenty abroad. Our players are experienced enough to take such factors in their stride,” he said, brushing aside concerns about Dhaka’s afternoon heat as “almost the same” as back home.
Muras United’s captain Zhaparov Amir kept it short and sharp as he said, “We came with good preparation. We will try and give our best.”

Across the aisle, Abahani’s head coach Maruful Haque showed respect for the opposition’s rapid rise.
“They (Muras United) may be young in age as a club, but they are technically and tactically sound with some good, experienced players.”
“If my players can execute the game plan we chalked, they will win. I am hopeful,” said Maruf.
Abahani skipper Asaduzzaman Babu, wearing the captain’s armband for the first time, exuded quiet confidence after four weeks of intensive training.
“We have worked on both our defensive shape and attacking moves,” he said, adding that the new leadership role was not weighing on his mind.
With both sides talking a good game, Tuesday’s encounter promises to be more than just a curtain-raiser. It’s the first move in a long campaign, where every score, cards, and points could set the tone for the journey ahead.

As the sun dips over Dhaka and the crowd roars to life, all eyes will be on whether Dhaka Abahani can make home advantage count, or if Muras United will steal the thunder on foreign soil.