Football: Nagaland storms into quarterfinals of Swami Vivekananda U-20 National Football Championship

The Nagaland U-20 team are through to the quarterfinals of the ongoing Swami Vivekananda U-20 Men’s National Football Championship after securing a hard-fought 2-2 draw against a strong Haryana U-20 side today at Narainpur, Chhattisgarh.

Despite several absentees in the lineup due to suspensions, Nagaland battled hard and took the lead early in the 14th minute when Nagaland’s K Arap Konyak (#13) quickly ran past his marker to beat an advancing goalkeeper. The buildup was orchestrated by midfielder Pulovi, who won the ball in midfield, dribbled past a couple of defenders, and delivered a defense-splitting through pass. Haryana, however, responded with an equalizer in the 30th minute via their captain Yaman Sheoran (#7), capitalizing on a defensive lapse.

With the score tied at 1-1 at halftime, the second half saw intense action from both teams. Nagaland needed only a draw to progress, while Haryana required all three points to qualify. The next two goals came late in the game.

Nagaland regained the lead in the 87th minute with another strike from K Arap Konyak, a header to the corner of the net. But Haryana showed resilience, equalizing again in the first minute of the six minutes of added time through their captain Yaman. Nagaland held firm until the final whistle and secured a spot in the quarterfinals, scheduled for April 25 at 7:30 AM IST at the same venue.
Nagaland will face the Sports Authority of India, who qualified from Group G. The match will be streamed live on the Indian Football YouTube channel.

About the tournament
The Swami Vivekananda U-20 Men’s National Football Championship is a premier youth football tournament in India, organized by the All India Football Federation (AIFF). Established to provide a competitive platform for players under 20, it features state and institutional teams from across the country. The inaugural edition was held in 2024, with Delhi clinching the title after a thrilling penalty shootout against Karnataka.

The 2025 edition is currently underway in Narainpur, Chhattisgarh, at the Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama Ground. The tournament structure includes eight groups, with 36 teams split into eight groups (four groups with five teams each and four groups with four teams each). Only the eight group winners advance to the knockout stages, culminating in the finals.

Nagaland has showcased impressive performance in Group H, securing victories against Bengal and Madhya Pradesh, and drawing with Haryana to top their group. Their resilience and strategic play have earned them a spot in the quarterfinals.

In Group G, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) team remained unbeaten, finishing with seven points from three matches and will face Nagaland on April 25.

MT