In a glorious climax to the 24th Dr. T. Ao Inter-District Football Championship, Mon district lifted the coveted trophy in a heart-stopping finish, edging past Niuland 5–4 in a dramatic penalty shootout. The championship decider, held at Indira Gandhi Stadium, was witnessed by a staggering capacity crowd of over 30,000 and captivated close to 1.5 lakh viewers during peak moments of the broadcast.
What qualifies as more than just a sporting contest turned into a cultural phenomenon—with fervent fans journeying from across the districts and beyond, the final embodied the spirit of unity and local pride. The atmosphere was electric, pulsating with music, chants, and a shared sense of identity.
Niuland drew first blood early, stunning the Mon faithful in the 14th minute when Kakhevi Assumi struck a perfect penalty kick, silencing half the stadium.
But champions are not crowned without resilience, and Mon roared back. In the dying moments of the first half, their top scorer K. Arap unleashed a thumping indirect free-kick strike in the 45th minute, sending the Mon supporters into raptures and the match into a tense deadlock.
The regulation time ended in a stalemate—1–1—and even the 15 minutes of added time could not break the deadlock. The stage was set for the nerve-wracking penalty shootout.
Mon demonstrated composure and precision, converting five of their six spot-kicks.
Niuland, while confident, faltered at two crucial moments—missing twice from the penalty mark, compared to Mon’s one.
Despite numerous chances in open play that came undone for both sides, it was only in the penalty lottery that the champion emerged. Mon’s superior finishing under immense pressure made the difference.
Mon district celebrated with more than silverware—they took home a handsome cash prize of Rs 5 lakh while the runner-up, Niuland, received Rs 3 lakh as consolation for their valiant efforts. The actual prize money was Rs 3 lakh for the champion and Rs 2 lakh for the runner-up.
However, CM donated additional amount of Rs 2 lakh for the winner and Rs 1 lakh for the runner up.
From Earlier Rounds: Mon and Niuland on the Rise
In the lead-up to the final, both Mon and Niuland districts asserted their dominance.
Mon’s remarkable victory over Mokokchung and Niuland’s tight win against Kohima (3–2) secured their places in the finale .
Record-breaking support: A packed stadium of 30,000+ is extraordinary for an inter-district contest—even more so given Nagaland’s rugged terrain and dispersed population.
With close to 1.3 lakh live viewers, broadcast reach reflects growing digital access and passion for grassroots football.
Mon’s victory in the Dr. T. Ao Trophy 2025 wasn’t just a win on the pitch—it was a defining moment of shared pride and celebration for Nagaland. The final will be remembered as much for its sporting excitement as for the cultural resonance that surrounded it.
Individual winners:
Best Defender Thejangulie Zatsu (Kohima)
Best Midfielder Sentilong (Mokokchung)
Golden Glove Teihom Konyak (Mon)
Golden Boot Ayenmongba (Tuensang)
Golden Ball Kakhevi Assumi (Niuland)
All individual winners won cash prize of Rs 10,000 and trophy each except Golden Ball winner who won cash prize of Rs 15,000 along with trophy.
CM Rio lauds unity and sportsmanship at Dr. T Ao trophy finale
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, addressing the closing ceremony of the Dr. T Ao Trophy 2025, 24th Inter-District Football Championship at Indira Gandhi Stadium, Kohima, on Friday evening, described the day as “a momentous occasion on two counts” — the observance of the 79th Independence Day and the grand finale of the prestigious state football tournament.
Rio said that on the occasion of Independence Day, the people of the state joined the nation in saluting those who made sacrifices for the country’s freedom and prosperity.
He highlighted that India had become the world’s fourth-largest economy and added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had committed to achieving “big goals” by 2047. The Chief Minister expressed hope that with unity and collective effort, those aspirations could be realised.
Reflecting on the tournament’s significance, Rio paid tribute to Dr. T. Ao, the legendary Naga footballer who captained the Indian national team at the London Olympics in 1948. He described Dr. T. Ao as a disciplined, humble, and hardworking sportsman who excelled in all his endeavours, and whose legacy remained a source of inspiration for the youth to strive for greater heights.
He commended the matches witnessed over the past days, which he said showcased skill, determination, teamwork, and fair play.
“It doesn’t matter whether you win or lose, but what matters is playing with sportsmanship and fairness,” he stated, adding that the 24th edition of the tournament would be remembered for a long time.
Rio reiterated the state government’s commitment to promoting sports by building infrastructure, providing training, nurturing talent, and ensuring that sporting pursuits go hand in hand with education.
He acknowledged the two finalist teams — Mon district and Niuland district — and all participating teams for their spirited performances.
Calling for unity beyond the playing field, the Chief Minister urged that the spirit of brotherhood fostered through the tournament be extended to communities at large. He encouraged all to carry forward the values of sportsmanship, unity, and excellence in every sphere of life, and expressed best wishes to both finalists.
Rio urged the spectators to enjoy the match and wished everyone a pleasant evening.
The closing ceremony was compered by Medolenuo Ambrocia Loucü and Neidilhoutuo Sechü.
Earlier, invocation was pronounced by Rev. Izieteilung Terieng, State Chaplain
A recap of the 24th Dr. T. Ao tournament was played.
Words of appreciation was delivered by Benei M Lamthi-u, general secretary, NFA & MLA
Special appearances were made by Ace Crew, Colored Keys and Obed Kath.
Expression of gratitude was delivered by B. Henok Buchem, NCS, Deputy Commissioner, Kohima & Member Secretary, Org. Committee.
During the interval special appearances were made by Hentok Konyak and Kivika Achumi.