As the group stages of the MDFA Trophy 2024 come to a close on Monday, here’s a look at the team standings. This year, only 12 teams are participating in the tournament, divided into four pools with three teams each. The lower number of participating teams, despite the increased popularity of football in Mokokchung, is quite paradoxical.
Except for the Pool-C match between LY Misfits and NU Lumami, and the Pool-D match between Telongjem FC and Konyak Students’ Union Mokokchung (KSUM), all other league matches have been played.
In Pool-A, debutants Team Gilgal top the table ahead of Moanungsang MSC despite both teams sharing 4 points each. Team Gilgal’s 6-1 win over DEF in the inaugural match of the tournament proved decisive, giving them the edge over homegrown team Moanungsang MSC on goal difference.
In Pool-B, the group winner is also decided by goal difference, with Super Seniors FC marginally eclipsing Zonipang SC. Both teams defeated SSS, while their encounter ended in a 1-1 draw.
However, Super Seniors FC scored 6 goals against SSS, while Zonipang SC managed 5 against the same opponent. Zonipang SC, the 2011 and 2017 winners, are making a comeback after a hiatus, showing promise as a rising club. As MDFA champions in 2011, Zonipang SC played in the Nagaland Premier League (NPL) in 2012 and 2013, but the NPL discontinued after only two seasons.
In Pool-C, NU Lumami leads the table with 3 points and one match in hand, to be played on Monday against LY Misfits. The other team in the group, Eastern Wing, has played all their matches and are second with 3 points. Their fate will be decided by the NU Lumami vs. LY Misfits match. NU Lumami are favorites to win, but even a draw will guarantee their place in the quarterfinals. If they lose, all three teams will share 3 points, and the standings will be decided by goal difference. LY Misfits must win by at least three goals to stay in the tournament—a mathematically possible but practically unlikely scenario.
In Pool-D, defending champions Telongjem FC have already qualified for the next round. Their match against KSUM on Monday will test their strength and depth. Only the third team to have won the MDFA Trophy three times in a row since its inception in 1993, Telongjem FC are aiming to become the first to win four consecutive titles. Arkong SC (1996, 1997, 1998) and Snipers FC (2001, 2002, 2003) are the other teams to have won the title three times in a row. Amokmolu, champions in 2000, are at the bottom of Pool-D with 1 point, and their fate depends on the outcome of the Telongjem FC vs. KSUM match. KSUM are favorites to qualify alongside Telongjem, needing only a draw. Even if they lose, KSUM can still qualify, with goal difference deciding the final standings.
Meanwhile, Pool-A winners Team Gilgal will meet Pool-B runner-up Zonipang SC in the quarterfinals while Pool-B winner Super Seniors FC will face off against Pool-A runner-up Moanungsang MSC. The other two quarterfinals will be finalized only after the last two remaining matches of the group stages are played on Monday.
(Note: The points are independently tabulated by MT and do not represent the official tabulation of the MDFA. Utmost care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the tabulation. Errors, if any, may be reported for necessary corrections).
