Yibenthung’s stoppage-time winner sends Wokha top of Group C; Mon finish Group A with perfect record
Wokha edged Tuensang 1–0 with a stoppage-time winner to top Group C and eliminate hosts Mokokchung from the 25th Dr T Ao Trophy Inter-District Football Championship 2026 on Tuesday, as the penultimate day of group-stage matches also produced a remarkable 7–7 draw between Dimapur and Kiphire and a five-goal haul by Mokokchung’s Imnatoshi.
The late results confirmed most of the quarterfinal line-up, with only the second qualifying spot from Group A still undecided. Defending champions Mon completed their group-stage campaign with a perfect record of four wins from four matches.
14-goal spectacle ends in heartbreak as Dimapur, Kiphire crash out
Dimapur and Kiphire played out a 7–7 draw, ending both teams’ hopes of reaching the knockout stage after each finished with just one point from three matches.
Dimapur opened the scoring through Lungneuying in the 15th minute. Kiphire equalised through Iteibabe’s penalty two minutes later, but Dimapur quickly regained control as Chingao and Vituna scored in the 18th and 21st minutes. Temsemeren added another in the 28th minute, while Chingao completed his brace in the 30th.
The goals continued to flow as Namduanbo scored twice in the 32nd and 43rd minutes for Dimapur. Kiphire stayed in contention through goals from Yotsase and Haominlal before the break, then mounted a second-half comeback through Ongpha’s penalty in the 52nd minute, Mankam in the 63rd and Bei in the 66th.
Idalungbe completed Kiphire’s comeback with a goal at 70+2 minutes to level the match at 7–7. Dimapur registered 13 shots, including 11 on target, while Kiphire managed 11 shots, seven on target.
Both teams will play their final group matches on October 22, with Dimapur facing Noklak and Kiphire taking on Zunheboto.
Mon complete Group A campaign with comeback win
Mon came from behind to defeat Noklak 2–1, strengthening their position at the top of Group A with a perfect 12 points from four matches.
Noklak took an early lead through Longkhoi in the fifth minute and held on to the advantage until the second half. David equalised for Mon in the 62nd minute before Pangteih struck three minutes later to complete the turnaround.
Mon finished the group stage unbeaten, while Zunheboto remain favourites to join them in the quarterfinals. Zunheboto have six points from three matches and need only a draw against Kiphire to secure qualification.
Noklak, also still in contention, must beat Dimapur and hope for a favourable result in the Zunheboto-Kiphire match. Their current goal difference of -3 is seven goals behind Zunheboto’s +4, making qualification a difficult prospect.
Yibenthung’s late strike puts Wokha top
Wokha secured a crucial 1–0 win over already-qualified Tuensang through Yibenthung’s goal at late stoppage time, moving to the top of Group C with seven points.
Tuensang dominated possession with 70% and recorded 14 shots, including 11 on target, but could not find the breakthrough. Wokha remained in the contest before Yibenthung struck in the dying minutes to settle the match.
Tuensang finished their group campaign with six points. The result also confirmed Wokha’s qualification and rendered the subsequent match between Mokokchung and Meluri inconsequential for progression.
Imnatoshi scores five as Mokokchung beat Meluri
Mokokchung ended their campaign with an emphatic 8–1 win over Meluri, with Imnatoshi scoring five goals in a standout individual performance.
Moajang opened the scoring in the fifth minute before Imnatoshi struck in the 35th, 37th and 42nd minutes. He added two more in the 52nd and 53rd minutes to complete his five-goal haul, the highest by an individual player in a match at this year’s tournament.
Takotoba scored twice, in the 62nd minute and at 70+3 minutes, while Türhüchu netted Meluri’s only goal at 70+3 minutes.
Mokokchung dominated possession with 70% and recorded 17 shots, 13 on target. Despite the win, the hosts had already been eliminated following Wokha’s win over Tuensang.
Meluri finished their campaign with three defeats, conceding 25 goals and scoring just once. They lost 0–9 to Tuensang, 0–8 to Wokha and 1–8 to Mokokchung.
Quarterfinal line-up takes shape
With the group stage nearing its conclusion, all quarterfinal places have been decided except for the second spot in Group A.
Group A winners Mon will face Group B runners-up Tseminyu, while Group B winners Kohima will meet either Zunheboto or Noklak.
Group C winners Wokha will take on Group D runners-up Peren, while Group D winners Phek will face Group C runners-up Tuensang.
