Mohun Bagan Advances to Kalinga Super Cup Quarterfinals After Churchill Brothers' Withdrawal

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Mohun Bagan Super Giant has secured a direct passage to the quarterfinals of the Kalinga Super Cup 2025 following Churchill Brothers' withdrawal from the tournament.

The much-anticipated Round of 16 clash, originally scheduled for April 20, has now been scrapped, with the Mariners awarded a bye.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) confirmed the development in a statement on Friday, citing Churchill Brothers FC Goa's decision to pull out as the reason behind the cancellation of the fixture. The match, which was scheduled for an 8 PM IST kickoff, will no longer take place.

Churchill Brothers, who were set to represent the I-League in the Super Cup, are currently involved in a dispute regarding the league title, with a final verdict still pending before the AIFF Appeals Committee. The uncertainty surrounding their status led the Goan side to opt out of the competition.

With this development, Mohun Bagan - fresh from clinching a remarkable domestic double under head coach Jose Molina by winning both the Indian Super League (ISL) Shield and the Cup - now awaits its next opponent in the quarterfinals. The Mariners will face the winner of the Round of 16 match between Kerala Blasters and East Bengal, which has now been moved to a prime-time 8 PM slot on April 20.

This turn of events has also set the stage for a possible Kolkata derby in the semifinals, provided both Mohun Bagan and East Bengal progress. The two sides have already locked horns multiple times this season, with East Bengal taking the honours in last year's Super Cup group stage. However, Mohun Bagan bounced back strongly, going unbeaten in the four subsequent meetings - winning three and drawing one.

The Mariners' direct entry into the last eight gives them additional rest and preparation time as they aim to add yet another trophy to their stellar 2024-25 campaign. Fans now look forward to what could be another fiery chapter in Indian football's most storied rivalry later this month in Bhubaneswar.