13 teams confirmed for Dr. T Ao Junior Girls National Football Championship

KOHIMA — Nagaland is set to host the Dr. T Ao Junior Girls National Football Championship 2025–26 (Tier-2) at Chümoukedima, from November 22 to December 11.

The announcement was made during a press conference held at the Directorate of Youth Resources and Sports (DYRS), Kohima, addressed by Anthony Ngully, commissioner and secretary of Youth Resources and Sports (YRS); Kethosituo Sekhose, director of YRS; K Neibou Sekhose, president of the Nagaland Football Association (NFA); and other officials.

Ngully said Nagaland is honoured that the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has named the championship after Dr. T Ao, the first captain of the Indian Olympic football team in 1948, as a tribute to his legacy.

He informed that many teams are likely to arrive soon, while some have already reached the state and are acclimatising themselves to the environment in Chümoukedima.

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The official stated that the Department of Youth Resources and Sports and the Nagaland Football Association are collaborating to make the championship a success.

Director Sekhose stated that the state government under Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has been undertaking numerous initiatives, and this championship is one major event the state is organising. He expressed hope that more such events would follow in the near future.

He informed that 13 teams have registered and confirmed their participation and that two–three teams have been in Chümoukedima since November 16.

He stated that there has been some delay regarding the fixtures because some teams had to cancel their participation at the last moment due to difficulties in procuring train tickets, a challenge many states are currently facing. However, he expressed hope that such issues will not be an impediment for hosting future tournaments.

He said the 13 teams have been divided into four groups, with Group A comprising Uttar Pradesh and Tripura; Group B consisting of Uttarakhand, Andaman & Nicobar, Punjab and Nagaland; Group C including Assam, Jammu & Kashmir and Chandigarh; and Group D featuring Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mizoram and Madhya Pradesh.

He informed that the matches will be played in a league format within the groups in the first round, followed by the semi-finals and the finale on December 11.

The matches will be played at the Chümoukedima Football Stadium inside the Police Complex. He assured smooth conduct of the tournament, informing that 17 different committees have been set up, with Chief Minister Rio heading the steering committee.

The director appealed to the public to come and witness not only the matches involving Nagaland but also those of other states. He added that girls’ sports—particularly women’s sports—will play a defining role for the country in the days ahead, especially with India bidding for the 2036 Olympics and preparing to host the Commonwealth Games. Women’s sports, he said, will play a major role in bringing laurels to the nation.

Meanwhile, NFA President Sekhose highlighted the legacy and contributions of Dr. T Ao in Indian football as the captain and flag bearer of the Indian team in the 1948 London Olympics and later through various roles.

He informed that Chief Minister Rio renamed the Inter-District tournament to the Dr. T Ao Inter-District Football Tournament in 2004, which has since been played 24 times. In 2009, the Northeast Fraternity Cup was renamed by Rio to the Northeast Dr. T Ao Trophy. With his endorsement, in 2024, the All India Football Federation Executive Committee meeting in September renamed the National Girls Junior Football Championship to the Dr. T Ao Trophy Junior Girls National Football Championship—and for the first time, Nagaland will host it.

The president also maintained that this will be the first time Nagaland is hosting a national-level football tournament. He informed that the organisers are expecting 312 players, along with about 24 officials, including the match commissioner, referee assessor, referees, and assistant referees.

Sekhose informed that Rio will attend the opening ceremony as the special guest, with the inaugural match to be played between host state Nagaland and Uttarakhand on November 22.

The players are between 13 and 16 years of age, and the NFA president asserted that the association is giving its best to push them to play even in the under-17 category next year. He added that girls from the state are exceeding expectations.

It was informed that, by virtue of being the host state, Nagaland could have directly participated in Tier-1; however, the state decided to compete in Tier-2 to avoid risks. The champions and runners-up from Tier-2 will qualify for Tier-1.

As the hosting state, and for the first time after the championship was renamed after Dr. T Ao 76 years after his captaincy of the Indian football team, Nagaland will provide the championship trophy, which will be a running trophy.

Entry into the stadium for spectators will be free on the opening day. For the remaining matches, the organisers are yet to decide, but an announcement is expected soon.