East Bengal FC Women Team Practice at Kalyani. Pictures BS News Agency.
Sanchita Chatterjee, BS News Agency, Kalyani, 1 January 2026: After winning all of their first three Indian Women's League (IWL) 2025-26 matches, East Bengal FC Women will face NITA FA (Odisha) in a top-of-the-table clash at the Kalyani Stadium tomorrow afternoon (Kickoff - 2.30 PM).
NITA FA currently sit atop the standings with 10 points from 4 matches (3 wins and a draw). EBFC Women are right behind them, having played a match less, with 9 points from 3 games. Both teams have been unbeaten so far, setting up a high-stakes encounter in the broader title race.
Pictures BS News Agency.
EBFC Women have carried their impeccable form from their SAFF Women's Club Championship triumph into the IWL. They kicked off their IWL campaign with a 1-0 win over Sethu FC, followed by a 2-1 triumph over Garhwal United FC, and a 9-0 win over SESA FA in their latest outing - the highest victory margin for the club in the IWL.
Fazila Ikwaput, who scored four goals against SESA, has been the top scorer for the club in this IWL with 5 goals, whilst Soumya Guguloth is right behind her with 4 goals, including her first hat-trick for the club in the previous match against SESA.
NITA FA, meanwhile, started with a 1-1 draw against Gokulam Kerala FC, but have since collected these convincing victories: 6-1 against SESA, 5-0 against Kickstart FC, and a gritty 1-0 win over Garhwal United. Their attack has been lethal with 13 goals, while their defence has looked solid, conceding just twice so far.
The two teams faced each other twice last season, with EBFC Women emerging victorious on both occasions - a 4-1 away win and a 5-1 win at home.
*Speaking at the pre-match press conference, EBFC Women's Head Coach Anthony Andrews said*, "The win against SESA has been a huge confidence booster for the team. NITA have scored 13 goals and conceded just twice, which shows that they have a solid defensive organisation too. Even though these are early days in the tournament, we need to win this game and claim the top spot. We need more fans in the stands tomorrow."
*EBFC Women's player Sushmita Lepcha said*, "Personally, for me, 2025 was an incredible year. I am grateful to East Bengal and Coach Anthony for showing constant faith in me and helping me adapt to the role of a wing-back. As a unit, we are focused on defending our IWL crown and securing a spot in next season's AFC Women's Champions League."