In a remarkable debut at the Swami Vivekananda U-20 Men’s National Football Championship, Nagaland secured a spot in the quarterfinals after topping Group-H.
The team clinched victories over Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal, and fought to a crucial 2-2 draw against Haryana on Wednesday in Narainpur, Chhattisgarh.
Despite facing adversity with the absence of four key players due to suspension, the Nagaland squad displayed exceptional grit and determination. They took an early lead in the 14th minute through a goal by K. Arap Konyak (jersey no. 13). Haryana, however, responded with an equalizer in the 30th minute, courtesy of their captain, Yaman Sheoran (jersey no. 7), setting up an intense battle for the second half.
With Nagaland needing only a draw to advance and Haryana requiring a win, the second half turned into a fierce contest. In the 87th minute, K. Arap Konyak once again put Nagaland ahead, scoring his second goal of the match. Haryana, refusing to back down, found the back of the net once more through Yaman Sheoran in the first minute of added time, setting up a nail-biting finish.
The Nagaland side managed to hold firm until the final whistle, earning the point they needed to move into the knockout stage. They will now face their quarterfinal opponents on April 25 at the same venue.
Following the match, the team expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Nagaland Football Association (NFA) officials and supporters across the state for their unwavering prayers and support.