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English Emmanuel Sunday’s Goal Seals Bashundhara Kings’ AFC Challenge League Spot
Bashundhara Kings made a winning return to continental football with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Syria’s Al-Karamah SC in the qualifying round of the 2025–26 AFC Challenge League at the Suheim bin Hamad Stadium on 12 August 2025.
In front of 2,667 fans, Nigerian forward Chukwuemeka Emmanuel Sunday marked his debut in spectacular fashion, scoring the game’s only goal in the 6th minute. His back-heel finish from a corner by Emmanuel Tony stunned the Syrian side and set the tone for the rest of the match.
Despite limited preparation time. Only two weeks of training and arriving in Qatar just a day before the game. The Kings showed composure and discipline against a club with a rich Asian football history. Al-Karamah, once runners-up in both the AFC Champions League and AFC Cup, pushed hard for an equaliser but found no way past Bashundhara’s solid defence.
Goalkeeper Mehedi Hasan Srabon was a standout performer, producing several key saves, including a brilliant tip-over in the 80th minute to deny a close-range header. The match also saw the debut of several new signings, including Brazilian duo Raphael Augusto and Dorielton Gomes, as well as former Sunderland youth prospect Cuba Mitchell, who came close to doubling the lead in the second half. Midfielder Mohammad Ridoy also made his first appearance for the club.
The draw is scheduled for 28 August 2025, where the Bangladesh Premier League champions will discover their next opponents in their quest for continental glory. The victory marks a significant milestone for Bangladeshi club football, with Bashundhara Kings once again flying the national flag in Asia’s competitive arena.
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