2019–20 Chittagong Abahani Season

On October 2019, Chittagong Abahani organized and participated in 2019 Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup.[7][8] Players including Bangladesh National Football Team captain Jamal Bhuyan, 2010 FIFA World Cup Quarterfinalist Prince Tagoe, Luka Rotkovic, Petar Planić were signed for the tournament.[9][10][11] They also signed former National Team head coach Maruful Haque.[12] Chittagong Abahani started the tournament with a 4–1 win against Maldivian side TC Sports Club.[13][14] Abahani also beaten Young Elephants FC by 4–2[15] but lost with Mohun Bagan by 1–0.[16] In semi-final, Abahani beaten Gokulam Kerala FC with an extra-time goal.[17][18] However, Chittagong Abahani defeated by Terengganu FC in the Final[19][20] and finished the tournament as runners-up.[21] Luka, who scored three goals, was top scorer for Abahani in the tournament. The players who joined the team on loan and foreigners except Ikbol, Didier and Matthew were released after the tournament.

On November 20, Abahani signed an one-year contract with Maruful Haque.[22][23][24] The signing made record as Maruful became highest paid local head coach of that season.[25] Brazilian footballer Nixon Guylherme and Uzbek defender Shukurali Pulatov were signed to fill up foreign quota while Bangladesh international Nasirul Islam Nasir, Monjurur Rahman Manik, Rakib Hossain, Mohammad Rocky etc. were also signed to form a strong squad for upcoming season.[26]

From December 4 to December 8, Chittagong Abahani took part in Mymensingh DFA Challenge Cup, a pre-season tournament, along with Saif Sporting Club and Bangladesh Police FC.[27] The tournament was won by defeating Police FC in final with 1–0 margin.[28][29]

In this month, the new football season started with 2019 Federation cup.[30] Abahani played first match of the season against Brother Union in 22 December and won it by 2–0 with goals scored by Nixon and Matthew.[31][32] Five days later, the last match of Group B against Bashundhara kings was won with 2–0 score.[33] Rakib and Didier scored the goals.[34] Abahani qualified for the knockout stage as group champion.[35] Three days later, Abahani suffered a 2–0 defeat against Dhaka Mohammedan[36] in quarter-final and were knocked out from 2019 Federation Cup.[37]

The club started the new year with good news as two players from the team, Manik Hossain Mollah, Monjurur Rahman Manik and Rakib Hossain called up in 23-men squad of Bangladesh National Team for 2020 Bangabandhu Cup.[38][39] Rakib and Manik both made their international debut against Sri Lanka.

Ctg Abahani started 2019-20 BPL against Sheikh Jamal DC on 13th February. The away match was won with 2–0 as Didier and Matthew found the net.[40] Five days later, the team suffered a 2–1 defeat against Arambagh KS in the first home game of the league. Shakhawat Rony scored the only goal in that match. On 23rd February, Ctg Abahani played a 2-2 draw with Saif SC at Mymensingh conceding two late goals. Nixon & Matthew scored in that match. Mohammad Nayeem made his debut for the team in this match.

Ctg Abahani played their second home game of the league against Sheikh Russel KC on 2nd March. The match was won by 2-0 Nixon & Mannaf Rabby scored. Five days later, Ctg Abahani defeated defending runners-up Dhaka Abahani by 2-0 on away schedule. Didier & Nasirul found the net on the game. On 15th March, they faced defending champion Bashundhara Kings at Nilphamari. Ctg Abahani made a historic comeback from 3-0 to 3-4 & won the match. Nixon netted a brace when Didier & Matthew each scored one goal. Mannaf Rabby provided two assists. On 16th March, remaining matches of month postponed till 31st march due to coronavirus outbreak.

As of matches played till 15 March 2020

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		BPL		Federation Cup		Independence Cup
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1	GK		Mohammad Nehal	4	0	2	0	2	0	0	0
2	DF		Mohammad Rockey	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
3	DF		Shawkat Russel	5	0	2+1	0	2	0	0	0
4	MF		Manik Hossain Molla	9	0	6	0	0+3	0	0	0
5	DF		Monjurur Rahman Manik	7	0	4	0	3	0	0	0
6	DF		Nasirul Islam Nasir	9	1	5+1	1	3	0	0	0
7	MF		Rakib Hossain	9	1	6	0	3	1	0	0
8	MF		Kpehi Didier Brossou	9	4	6	3	3	1	0	0
9	FW		Nixon Guylherme	8	5	5+1	4	2	1	0	0
10	MF		Matthew Chinedu	9	4	6	3	3	1	0	0
11	MF		Shohel Rana	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
12	MF		Koushik Barua	1	0	0	0	0+1	0	0	0
14	MF		Monaem Khan Raju	9	0	6	0	3	0	0	0
15	MF		Shafiqul Islam	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
16	MF		Saker Ullah	2	0	0+2	0	0	0	0	0
17	MF		Mannaf Rabby	6	1	0+3	1	0+3	0	0	0
18	MF		Zahed Parvez Chowdhury	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
19	MF		Kawsar Ali Rabbi	2	0	0+1	0	0+1	0	0	0
20	FW		Shakhawat Hossain Rony	5	1	1+2	1	1+1	0	0	0
21	DF		Ashik Ahammed	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
22	GK		Azad Hossain	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
23	DF		Monir Alam	9	0	5+1	0	3	0	0	0
24	DF		Ikbol Bobohonov	5	0	1+3	0	1	0	0	0
25	DF		Shukurali Pulatov	8	0	5	0	3	0	0	0
26	DF		Saddam Hossain	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
28	MF		Mynul Islam	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
30	FW		Shakib Chowdhury	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
32	DF		Rashed Hossain	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
33	GK		Mohammad Nayeem	4	0	4	0	0	0	0	0
35	DF		Apu Ahammad	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
40	GK		Nasarul Islam	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Source: Soccerway

As of matches played till 15 March 2020

Rank	Player	Position	Total	BPL	Federation Cup[41][42]	Independence Cup
1	Nixon Guylherme	FW	5	4	1	0
2	Chinedu Mathew	MF	4	3	1	0
	Didier Brossou	MF	4	3	1	0
3	Rakib Hossain	MF	1	0	1	0
	Shakhawat Rony	FW	1	1	‌ 0
	Mannaf Rabby	MF/FW	1	1	‌ 0
	Nasirul Islam Nasir	DF	1	1
Own goals			0	0	0	0
Total			17	13	4	0

As of matches played till 15 March 2020

			Total			BPL		Federation Cup		Independence Cup
No.	Pos.	Player	Matches played	Clean sheet (%)	Goals Conceded	Clean sheet (%)	Goals Conceded	Clean sheet (%)	Goals conceded	Clean sheet (%)	Goals conceded
1	GK	Mohammad Nehal	4	2 (50%)	4	1 (50%)	2	1 (50%)	2	—
22	GK	Azad Hossain	1	1(100%)	0	0 (0%)	0	1 (100%)	0	—
33	GK	Mohammad Nayeem	4	2(50%)	5	2 (50%)	5	—	—
TOTALS			9	5 (55%)	9	3 (33%)	7	2 (66%)	2	—