After a long wait of 23 years, Mohammedan Sporting Club finally reclaimed their place at the summit of Bangladeshi football, clinching the Bangladesh Premier League title and reviving memories of their illustrious past. Once the pride of Dhaka’s streets and a powerhouse in domestic football, the club’s resurgence had inspired thousands of loyal fans.
But the fairytale has hit an administrative snag.
Despite their triumph on the pitch, Mohammedan will not be competing in the 2025–26 AFC Challenge League. The club has failed to meet the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) club licensing requirements — a mandatory criterion for participation in continental competitions.
The deadline to submit the necessary documents via the AFC’s online portal passed on 25 March, at a time when Mohammedan had yet to secure the league title. Efforts to rectify the situation post-title win proved to be too little, too late. Although the club filed an appeal, it was ultimately rejected by the AFC. The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) made the decision official at around 9:45 PM on Thursday night.
A total of five clubs from Bangladesh had applied for AFC club licences: Mohammedan Sporting Club, Abahani Limited, Bashundhara Kings, Rahmatganj MFS, and Brothers Union. Of these, only Abahani and Bashundhara Kings were granted licences for the upcoming continental season.
According to AFC regulations, if the domestic league champions fail to qualify for the Challenge League due to licensing issues, the opportunity is passed down to the league runners-up. As such, Abahani Limited, who finished second in the league table, will now represent Bangladesh in the tournament.
There may be further good news for Bangladeshi football fans. With no club from Pakistan having secured an AFC licence this time around, an additional spot may open up, which could pave the way for Bashundhara Kings to join Abahani in the AFC Challenge League.
While Mohammedan’s return to glory on the pitch is worthy of celebration, their absence from the continental stage will surely serve as a reminder of the importance of off-field preparedness.