Football tournament season
2023–2024 PFF National Challenge CupNational Challenge Cup |
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Tournament details |
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Country | Pakistan |
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Dates | 24 January 2023 – 12 May 2024 |
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Teams | 27 |
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Defending champions | WAPDA |
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Final positions |
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Champions | WAPDA |
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Runner-up | SA Gardens |
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Third place | Pakistan Army |
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Fourth place | Higher Education Commission |
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Tournament statistics |
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Top goal scorer(s) | Shayak Dost (8 goals) |
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Best player | Mohammad Umar Hayat |
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Best goalkeeper | Salman ul Haq |
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All statistics correct as of 12 May 2024. |
The 2023–2024 PFF National Challenge Cup was the 30th edition of domestic cup competition in Pakistan. 27 departmental teams participated in the competition, from 24 January 2023 until 12 May 2024. The cup featured 27 departmental teams across the country vying for the title, which was defended by 2020 champions WAPDA.
Initially scheduled to be held throughout 2023, the second phase was held in May 2024 after almost 15 months of inactivity.[1]
Background
The tournament took place after a gap of nearly three-and-a-half years because of the Pakistan Football Federation's suspension by FIFA due to a power struggle within the Pakistan Football Federation. FIFA lifted the ban imposed on PFF after the legitimate Normalization Committee body was restored.[2]
The tournament was announced briefly after departmental sports in Pakistan were restored in August 2022 by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Many of the departmental clubs were disbanded following the shutdown of departmental sports in Pakistan in September 2021.[2][3][4] Departmental teams were then restricted to the PFF National Challenge Cup, following their controversial participation in the Pakistani domestic league setup in the previous years.[5][6] A PFF official stated that from now on, there will be separate competitions for departments and clubs. When a domestic league is held, it will be solely for clubs.[5]
The PFF Constitution stated that all departmental players need to be “affiliated with a club”, with some teams taking advantage of it such as POPO FC, which had their team playing the Challenge Cup under the department with the name of Mamsons Builders.[5] Lyallpur FC competed under the name of Otto Cranes.
In the first phase, teams, bracketed in seven groups, competed on home and away basis. The leading two teams from each group and the two best third-placed sides progressed to the round of 16. The first phase was held at Karachi, Lahore, Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Quetta, Chaman, Rawalpindi and Islamabad simultaneously.[6]
The second phase was set to be conducted from May 1 to 12 in 2023 at a centre yet to be decided.[6] It was postponed to kick off on the 21st of October until 6 November 2023.[7] After an uncertain inactivity almost 15 months after it began, the National Challenge Cup knockout stage was finally announced to reach its end in Lahore from May 1 to 12 in 2024.[1] The venue was ultimately shifted to Islamabad, with Jinnah Stadium hosting the semifinals and final, and the group stage and the rest of knockout round at local nearby grounds.[8]
Teams
The 27 teams participating in the tournament are as below:[6]
First phase
Group A
Updated to match(es) played on 14 February 2023. Source: PFF (Twitter)
(W) ?
Gwadar Port Authority withdrew due to their internal issues.[9]
Group B
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
1 | Pak Afghan Clearing Agency | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | Advance to Second phase |
2 | NIMSO | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
3 | MILO | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
4 | Hazara Coal Company | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Updated to match(es) played on 14 February 2023. Source: PFF (Twitter)
Essa Khan Football Ground,
Chaman
MILO | 1–1 | Hazara Coal Company |
Mohammad Saleem ?' | Report | Syed Haider 12' |
Hazara Coal Company | 1–3 | NIMSO |
| Report | |
Essa Khan Football Ground, Chaman
NIMSO | 1–0 | MILO |
Ali Reza ?' | Report | |
Yazdan Khan Model High School, Quetta
Hazara Coal Company | 1–2 | MILO |
Jamshed Ahmad 79' | Report | Saleem 83', 86' |
Yazdan Khan Model High School, Quetta
MILO | 0–1 | NIMSO |
| Report | Ali Reza ?' |
NIMSO | ?–? | Hazara Coal Company |
| | |
Essa Khan Football Ground, Chaman
Group C
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
1 | Asia Ghee Mills | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | Advance to Second phase |
2 | Pakistan Railways | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
3 | Ashraf Sugar Mills | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | |
4 | Hussain Homes Textiles | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Updated to match(es) played on 14 February 2023. Source: PFF (Twitter)
Gulzar Sadiq Park, Bahawalpur
Asia Ghee Mills | ?–? | Hussain Textile |
| | |
Gulzar Sadiq Park, Bahawalpur
Gulzar Sadiq Park, Bahawalpur
Asia Ghee Mills | 2–1 | Ashraf Sugar Mills |
| Report | |
Gulzar Sadiq Park, Bahawalpur
Gulzar Sadiq Park, Bahawalpur
Hussain Textiles | 0–2 | Ashraf Sugar Mills |
| Report | Nasir 12' Kashif ?' (pen.) |
Gulzar Sadiq Park, Bahawalpur
Gulzar Sadiq Park, Bahawalpur
Gulzar Sadiq Park, Bahawalpur
Ashraf Sugar Mills | 2–1 | Asia Ghee Mills |
Muhammad Umair Ashraf ?', ?' | Report | Hassan ?' |
Gulzar Sadiq Park, Bahawalpur
Gulzar Sadiq Park, Bahawalpur
Ashraf Sugar Mills | 0–2 | Hussain Textiles |
| Report | Rehman Akhter ?' Asad Ali ?' |
Gulzar Sadiq Park, Bahawalpur
Group D
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
1 | Otto Cranes | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | Advance to Second phase |
2 | SA Farms | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
3 | Masha United | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
4 | Klash Mills | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Updated to match(es) played on 14 February 2023. Source: PFF (Twitter)
Panther Ground, Faisalabad
Panther Ground, Faisalabad
Klash Mills | 0–1 | SA Farms |
| Report | |
Dhanola Ground, Faisalabad
Klash Mills | 0–3 | Otto Cranes |
| Report | Haider ?', ?' Hasnain ?' |
Dhanola Ground, Faisalabad
Dhanola Ground, Faisalabad
Agriculture University Ground, Faisalabad
Agriculture University Ground, Faisalabad
Otto Cranes | 4–1 | Klash Mills |
Haider Ali ?', ?', ?', ?' | Report | Shahraiz ?' |
Agriculture University Ground, Faisalabad
Group E
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
1 | WAPDA | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | Advance to Second phase |
2 | SA Gardens | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
3 | Higher Education Commission | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
4 | Saif Textiles | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
Updated to match(es) played on 14 February 2023. Source: PFF (Twitter)
WAPDA | 2–2 | Higher Education Commission |
| Report | |
SA Gardens | 3–0 | Saif Textile |
Shakeel Ahmed 48' Umair 72' Murtaza 88' | Report | |
SA Gardens Stadium, Lahore
Saif Textile | 0–2 | Higher Education Commission |
| Report | |
Fame Football Ground, Lahore
Punjab University Football Ground, Lahore
Punjab University Football Ground, Lahore
Higher Education Commission | 0–0 | WAPDA |
| Report | |
Punjab University Football Ground, Lahore
Fame Football Ground, Lahore
Punjab University Football Ground, Lahore
Higher Education Commission | 0–1 | Saif Textile |
| Report | Asad ?' |
Punjab University Football Ground, Lahore
Group F
Updated to match(es) played on 14 February 2023. Source: PFF (Twitter)
Muslim Hands | 0–2 | Pakistan Army |
| Report | Afzaal 64' Dabeer Hussain 72' |
Municipal Stadium, Rawalpindi
Municipal Stadium, Rawalpindi
POF Wah | 1–0 | Muslim Hands |
Zain-ul-Aabdeen ?' | Report | |
Pakistan Army | 3–0 | Muslim Hands |
Afzaal 45' Sarfaraz 65' Abrar 78' | Report | |
Group G
Updated to match(es) played on 14 February 2023. Source: PFF (Twitter)
WSTC | 2–1 | BHCC |
Zahid ?' Rizwan ?' | Report | Riaz ?' |
BHCC | 0–1 | WSTC |
| Report | Rizwan 88' |
Second phase
Group A
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
1 | Pakistan Army | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | +9 | 9 | Advance to Quarter-finals |
2 | Higher Education Commission | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 6 |
3 | Pak Afghan Clearing Agency | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | −4 | 3 | |
4 | NIMSO | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 8 | −6 | 0 |
Updated to match(es) played on 5 May 2024. Source: GSA
Group B
Updated to match(es) played on 5 May 2024. Source: GSA
Group C
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
1 | WAPDA | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 3 | +8 | 9 | Advance to Quarter-finals |
2 | WSTC | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 4 |
3 | Otto Cranes | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 9 | −3 | 3 | |
4 | Pakistan Police | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | −4 | 1 |
Updated to match(es) played on 6 May 2024. Source: GSA
Group D
Updated to match(es) played on 6 May 2024. Source: GSA
Knockout round
Bracket
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
SA Gardens | 0–0 (a.e.t.) | Higher Education Commission |
| Report | |
Penalties |
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| 3–2 | |
Third position
Final
Awards
- As of 12 May 2024[10][11]
References
- ^ a b Reporter, The Newspaper's Sports (2024-04-06). "Over a year after it started, Challenge Cup to finally conclude". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
- ^ a b "The resumption of football | Sports | thenews.com.pk". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
- ^ "Departments reluctant to form teams before NC calendar". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
- ^ "PFF strives for revival of departmental football". The Nation. 2022-12-03. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
- ^ a b c Wasim, Umaid (2023-01-25). "Domestic football returns as Challenge Cup kicks off". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
- ^ a b c d "PFF National Challenge Cup kicks off today". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
- ^ "PFF announces dates of final round of National Challenge Cup 2023". The Nation. 2023-07-20. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
- ^ Reporter, The Newspaper's Sports (2024-04-23). "Jinnah Stadium to host Challenge Cup knockouts". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
- ^ "Police edge Navy in Challenge Cup". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
- ^ Raza, Abdul (2024-05-12). "WAPDA wins National Challenge Cup 2023-24 Title". The Sports Side. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ^ "WAPDA retain Challenge Cup". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
External links
- 2024 National Challenge Cup GSA
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