Manipur Dominates Group B in U20 Men's National Football Championship 2026

Manipur Takes Command in Group B

On Monday, Manipur established a strong lead in Group B of the Swami Vivekananda U20 Men's National Football Championship 2026 by decisively defeating Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu with a score of 7-0. Meanwhile, Karnataka is still in contention for a quarter-final position in Group E, and Nagaland managed to secure a draw against Chhattisgarh, as reported by the All India Football Federation (AIFF).

Match Highlights: Manipur vs. Dadra and Nagar Haveli

Manipur showcased their dominance in Group B by overwhelming Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu 7-0 at Ground 1 of the Ramakrishna Mission Ashram in Narainpur. Salam Swamichandra Meitei initiated the scoring early and completed a hat-trick in the first half. Other contributors to the scoreline included Chanam Akash Meitei, Guithouba Sagongduimei, Wahengbam Jack Singh, and Khundongbam Carlos Singh, each netting one goal.

Nagaland and Chhattisgarh Share Points

In another Group B encounter, Nagaland and the host team Chhattisgarh ended their match in a 1-1 stalemate at Ground 2 of the RKM. Both teams found the net in the second half, with Indrajit Roy scoring for Chhattisgarh via a penalty in the 62nd minute, only for Vinato Achumi to equalize for Nagaland in injury time at the 90+6 minute mark.

Manipur's Path to Quarter-Finals

Following these results, Manipur leads Group B with six points from two matches, while Chhattisgarh holds second place with four points from four games. The two teams are set to clash on May 6 in what will be a decisive match for Group B. A draw will suffice for Manipur to advance to the quarter-finals as the top team, while Chhattisgarh must secure a win to move forward.

Karnataka Secures First Win in Group E

In Group E, Karnataka achieved their first victory by defeating Odisha 4-2 at Ground 1 of the RKM. Karnataka led 2-1 at halftime, with Johnstar M Marak scoring first, followed by a response from Odisha's Ronik Majhi. Premish T quickly restored Karnataka's lead, and additional goals from Meitram Kangleinganba Singh and Nirupam Gowda sealed the win, despite Pankaj Tanty scoring late for Odisha.

Current Standings in Group E

Despite this victory, Karnataka remains in second place in Group E with three points from two matches. West Bengal tops the group with the same points but holds a better head-to-head record against Karnataka, having one game in hand.