Abahani Limited Dhaka and defending champions Mohammedan Sporting Club have been placed in the same group of the Federation Cup as the tournament draw was held at Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) Bhaban on Wednesday.

The two traditional arch-rivals, who will be favorites to move through to the quarter-finals, got port city team Chittagong Abahani Limited and Gopibagh outfit Brothers Union Club in the Group B.

Bangladesh Police Football Club and Lieutenant Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club were placed in Group A alongside old Dhaka outfit Rahmatganj Muslim and Friends Society.

Bashundhara Kings, Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra and Fortis Football Club Limited have been pitted in group C.

The competition will kick off from December 26 with the participation of ten clubs of Bangladesh Premier League. The matches will be played at Sheikh Fazlul Haque Mani Stadium in Gopalganj, Birshreshtha Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj and Bashundhara Kings arena in Dhaka.

BFF’s member and media committee’s chairman Zakir Hossain Chowdhury, BFF professional league management committee’s member Abdur Rahim and BFF’s general secretary Imran Hossain were present in the prize distribution ceremony.