After six matchdays in AFC Challenge League 2026-27 group stages in Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium, Hawally, we finally have our top four teams from the West region, who have qualified for the quarter-finals of the AFC Challenge League.

FC Goa, the reigning champions of the Super Cup secured a preliminary spot in the AFC Champions League 2. But a defeat to Arkadag in the preliminary round saw the Gaurs being relegated to the third tier of the continental league. Gaurs achieved a unique feat of playing across all three tiers of AFC.

Goa were the top seeded team and the favourites to top Group C and qualify for the quarterfinals. However, they had a frustrating start to the campaign after a 2-1 defeat to Tajikistan’s Regar-TadAZ despite Goa taking the lead early on in the game.

They clinched a hard fought win over Bangladesh’s Fortis after Chiki and Ortiz found their name in the scoresheet. Tonight, it was a must win game against Kuwait’s Al Qadsia, but a brace from the Moroccan striker Khabba saw Goa succumbing to a 2-1 defeat.

Following tonight’s defeat to the Kuwaiti side in Hawally, Goa’s Challenge League campaign comes to a tragic end as they failed to qualify for the knockouts.

Final Group C Standings of AFC Challenge League 2026-27

After three matchweeks, Al Qadsia finished atop the points table with three wins out of three games. They scored six goals and Chiki’s goal was the solitary goal against the Kuwaiti side.

There was one direct qualification spot available for the best second ranked team among all three groups. Unfortunately, the second ranked teams in both Group A and Group B has two wins and six points, all other teams in Group C are already out of contention.

The remaining three teams in Group C have finished at three points each and the Gaurs have a relatively better goal difference in contrast to Regar-TadAZ and Fortis.

All three teams finished the group stages with a negative goal difference. Fortis finished second in Group C due to a superior head to head record over Regar-TadAZ. Gaurs finished third in the table whereas Regar-TadAZ finished in the bottom of the points table.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.