Fortis FC have cleared the preliminary hurdle of the AFC Challenge League, beating Kyrgyzstan Premier League runners-up Muras United 1-0 at Bashundhara Kings Arena in Dhaka.
The victory is a significant moment for Fortis, who were playing their first-ever international competitive match. The club finished third in the previous Bangladesh league season and strengthened its squad ahead of the continental campaign, bringing in several foreign players to address concerns over match fitness and international experience.
Fortis head coach Masud Kaiser fielded a side featuring three local players and eight foreigners. Sri Lankan goalkeeper Sujan Pereira was entrusted with protecting the goal, while Nepal’s Arik Bista and Gambian forward Pa Omar Babou were among the foreign recruits. Two forwards, Ibrahim and Insan, joined from Abahani Limited on loan, while Japanese players Shihan and Mimomura provided defensive options at centre-back and left-back.
Muras United, meanwhile, arrived from a much colder climate and faced a very different challenge in the humid Dhaka conditions. Their tall and physically strong squad included Ukrainian goalkeeper Kostyaek and defenders Andrei Batsula and Rekov, along with foreign players from Ghana and Belarus. The heat and humidity appeared to affect the Kyrgyz side, particularly as the match progressed.
Both teams began cautiously, with their defensive shape taking priority. The midfield contest was intense, but Fortis created the better opportunities during the opening half. Pa Omar Babou came close when his effort struck a Muras defender before hitting the crossbar.
Muras suffered another setback in the 37th minute when their influential number 10, Japparov Amir, was forced off with an injury. The visitors nevertheless produced moments of danger. Fortis goalkeeper Sujan Pereira kept his side level by making an important save from a threatening effort by Kyrgyz midfielder Atabayev.
The breakthrough came seven minutes into the second half.
In the 52nd minute, Pa Omar Babou carried the ball forward from just beyond the halfway line, beating opponents with a determined individual run before entering the penalty area. He then laid the ball off to Ibrahim, who made no mistake from just outside the box. His powerful low shot travelled straight into the net, giving Fortis a 1-0 lead and sending the home supporters into celebration.
Fortis immediately looked capable of extending their advantage. Soon after the goal, Nepalese player Ananta Tamang saw an effort from a corner pushed away by the Muras goalkeeper, who managed to divert the ball behind for another corner.
With their qualification hopes at stake, Muras responded by committing more players to attack. That left Fortis under sustained pressure during the closing stages, forcing their defenders and goalkeeper Pereira to remain alert.
The biggest moment came in the 74th minute. A shot from Mursad struck Nepalese midfielder Arik Bista inside the penalty area, prompting the Bahraini referee to award a penalty. It appeared to offer Muras a clear route back into the match.
But Fortis survived.
Muras midfielder Shimomura stepped up to take the spot-kick, only to see the ball strike the side post. The miss preserved Fortis’s narrow advantage, and the home side held on through the remaining minutes to secure a historic continental victory.
The official attendance was 2,113, but the atmosphere inside Bashundhara Kings Arena was considerably louder than the figure suggested. Supporters beat drums, sang and danced throughout the match, creating a lively backdrop as Fortis secured their place in the group stage.
The result also carries an interesting historical connection for Bangladeshi club football. On 12 August last year, Abahani were eliminated from the same competition after suffering a 2-0 defeat against a physically imposing Kyrgyz club. This time, Fortis faced another Kyrgyz opponent and produced the result Bangladesh needed.
Fortis will now turn their attention to the group stage of the 2026-27 AFC Challenge League. The official group-stage draw is scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur during the third week of August.
Bangladesh will have another club involved in the competition as well. Police FC, who finished fourth in the domestic league, are due to play their preliminary match in Jordan later tonight. Their result could determine whether Bangladesh has another representative alongside Fortis in the next phase.
