The 25th Dr T Ao Inter-District Football Championship, Silver Jubilee Edition, is offering a glimpse of the changing dynamics of football in Nagaland, with emerging teams challenging established names and recent champions strengthening their positions among the state’s leading sides.
Defending champions Mon have continued their title defence and secured a place in the final, but their progress also highlights how competitive the tournament has become. Despite their recent success, this is only Mon’s third appearance in the final. They first reached the title clash in 2022 in Mokokchung, where they lost 2-0 to Dimapur, which went on to claim its third championship.
The absence of several traditionally strong teams from the semi-finals has further underlined the shift. Hosts Mokokchung exited in the group stage, while Kohima, another multiple-time champion, were knocked out by Zunheboto in the quarter-finals. Dimapur were also eliminated in the first round.
Group D, widely regarded as the “group of death” for bringing together Niuland, Chümoukedima, Phek and Peren, has also produced no finalist. Peren, however, reached the semi-finals before losing 2-1 to Mon, with Eshong Konyak scoring both goals for the defending champions.
Attention now turns to the second semi-final between Zunheboto and 2024 champions Tuensang. Zunheboto’s run to the semi-finals marks a breakthrough for the district as it seeks to establish itself among the tournament’s top contenders. A place in the final would take the team into uncharted territory, while victory for Tuensang would give the 2024 champions another opportunity to compete for the title.
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The recent editions provide a clearer picture of this changing balance. Phek claimed its first title in 2019, followed by Tuensang’s maiden championship in 2024. Mon then won the 2025 edition, defeating Niuland in a penalty shootout to secure its first title.
Tuensang’s title win was especially memorable as the team lifted the trophy on home turf at the Loyem Memorial Astro Turf Ground. The victories by Phek, Tuensang and Mon show that the championship is no longer the preserve of a small group of established winners.
The tournament’s historical record, however, remains difficult to establish comprehensively. Attempts by Mokokchung Times to compile a complete list of past winners were unsuccessful, with detailed records not readily available in the public domain. Mokokchung is widely regarded as one of the tournament’s most successful districts in its earlier years, but the lack of accessible records makes a definitive comparison difficult.
The championship scheduled for 2021 was also cancelled following a surge in COVID-19 cases. The 21st edition had begun at Indira Gandhi Stadium in Kohima on April 12 that year before being called off.
Since the tournament resumed in 2022, the emergence of new champions has become a defining feature of its recent history. Dimapur’s third title in 2022 was followed by Tuensang’s maiden title and Mon’s breakthrough championship in 2024 and 2025 respectively.
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The current edition could add another chapter to that story. If Zunheboto defeat Tuensang, they will reach the final for the first time. If Tuensang prevail, a final against Mon would bring together the last two champions, both seeking a second title.
Whatever the outcome, the Silver Jubilee Edition has already shown that the balance of power in Nagaland football is shifting, with emerging districts increasingly capable of challenging the traditional contenders.
