East Bengal are set to face Kuwait’s Al Arabi in AFC Champions League Two preliminaries on Wednesday, with the visitors arriving in Kolkata with a packed foreign contingent. Croatian head coach Goran Sablic will look to make a difference through his overseas recruits, while East Bengal will have only three foreigners at their disposal for the crucial encounter.
Leading the line for Al Arabi is Palestinian striker Zaid Qunbar. The 23-year-old centre-forward has already played for Palestine at senior level and was named in their squad at the 2023 Asian Cup. Qunbar is a physical presence for Al Arabi in the final-third, and has the mobility to play across the attacking line.
Nigerian winger Anayo Iwuala adds pace and directness to the attack. The versatile Iwuala, who can play on either flank, has previously played for Enyimba, Esperance Tunis and CR Belouizdad. His ability to take on defenders one-on-one and make runs in behind could cause problems for East Bengal’s backline.
Brazilian Lucas Shallon provides another option up front, while Ethiopian midfielder Canaan Markneh brings creativity and physicality in the middle of the park. Markneh is 1.90m tall and has played in Ethiopia, Libya, Qatar and Oman.
Al Arabi have also added to their defence with the arrival of experienced Senegalese centre-back Joher Khadim Rassoul, a former player in Europe and Iraq.
Brazilian defender Leonardo Sheldon can also operate as a defensive midfielder and is another option at the back.
The foreign contingent is marshalled by Sablic who took over at Al Arabi this summer. The Croatian coach has previously worked in his own country, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Moldova, and started his tenure with the club during their pre-season preparations in Turkey.
In contrast, East Bengal will have a much smaller foreign contingent on offer. The three overseas players available to be selected are expected to be Dani Ramirez, Chris Ikonomidis and Mohammed Rashid.
The Spanish centre-back Nacho Monsalve will be a huge loss after he damaged his knee and is set to be out for most of the campaign. His absence leaves East Bengal without an experienced defensive option against an Al Arabi side that has plenty of attacking quality.
Nigerian forward Nsungusi Effiong is also set to miss the match as he is yet to receive his visa.
Al Arabi have more depth in foreign players and it will depend on how well East Bengal will organise themselves and how their domestic players perform. It could well be about Antonio Lopes Habas and his wealth of experience on the continental stage to find a way to rescue East Bengal in what promises to be a tough encounter.
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