Shillong, Jan 20: Meghalaya have giants Services and West Bengal for company in Group B of the final round of the 76th Men’s National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy, which will begin on 10th February.
West Bengal are the most successful team in the tournament’s history, winning the title 32 times, and they were runners-up last season. Services have also won the event six times, with the last occasion being in 2018-19.
The other teams in Group B are Delhi and Railways, with one slot to be occupied by the runners-up of the preliminary round’s Group 2 or 6. Services and Railways both received direct entry into the final round.
Meghalaya qualified for the final round of the Santosh Trophy by topping Group 5 on 1st January.
Group A consists will defending champions Kerala, Goa, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Odisha and the winner of the preliminary round’s Group 6.
Last year Meghalaya had also been grouped with West Bengal and came off 4-3 losers in an intense match before bowing out of the competition after failing to progress to the knockouts.
The final round will be played in Odisha from 10th to 20th February. The semifinals, third place playoff and final will be played in Saudi Arabia.
Meghalaya fixtures:
11th February: Meghalaya vs Services
13th February: Meghalaya vs Runners-Up of Group 2/6
15th February: Railways vs Meghalaya
18th February: Meghalaya vs Delhi
20th February: Bengal vs Meghalaya
(File photo)
