Ahead of the match, CRPF head coach Uttam Singh Negi said, “As Eastern Sporting Union are the former winners of the IWL and have a good squad of youth and experience, our match against them will be a do-or-die one. We have worked on our finishing in the training sessions and are expecting the team to win the game.”
Eastern Sporting Union head coach Lourembam Ronibala Chanu also expressed her thoughts on the tie saying, “Yes, it’s a must-win match for us and we’ll go all out. CRPF are a tough side, but our goal is to win so that we qualify (for the quarter-finals).”