Nagaland displayed great determination as they fought to a 2-2 draw against Rajasthan in the 79th National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy 2025-26 Final Round. The match took place on Friday, January 30, 2026, at the Dhakuakhana Football Stadium, where teams from West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, and Assam secured quarter-final spots from Group A.
Rajasthan took an early lead in the 21st minute through Amit Kumar, who capitalized on a deep free-kick, placing the ball low into the far corner beyond Nagaland goalkeeper Mengulhoukho Chalieu. Nagaland responded strongly as S Ayenmongba leveled the score in the 33rd minute, finishing a precise pass from wingback Bapen Yimjong with a low right-footed shot.
In the second half, Rajasthan regained the lead through a penalty converted by Mukesh Kumar in the 76th minute, awarded after Nagaland defender Menoneikho Nakhro fouled Aman Tyagi inside the box. However, Nagaland swiftly answered back when Aman Tyagi committed a handling foul, granting Nagaland a penalty. Laiwang Bohham confidently converted in the 82nd minute, securing a hard-earned draw for his team. Despite Nagaland’s increased attacking efforts in the final minutes, Rajasthan’s defense held firm.
The result reflected the spirited contest between the two teams, with Nagaland demonstrating skillful short-passing play to complement Rajasthan’s long-ball style. Although Nagaland did not advance to the quarter-finals, their performance showed strong promise.
Meanwhile, West Bengal topped Group A with 11 points after a 1-1 draw with hosts Assam. Assam equalized late in the match with a penalty converted by Rituraj Mohan, cancelling out West Bengal’s first-half goal by Akash Hemram. Tamil Nadu secured a narrow 1-0 win over Uttarakhand, thanks to M Umasankar’s 68th-minute strike, eliminating Uttarakhand from the tournament.
These results confirmed the quarter-finalists from the group as West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, and Assam. Nagaland’s spirited efforts, particularly their draw against Rajasthan, provided a strong statement of their competitive edge in this prestigious national football tournament.
