18th M. Noke Wangnao Memorial Trophy 2026 Gets Underway in Mon

The 18th edition of the M. Noke Wangnao Memorial Trophy 2026 got underway on Tuesday, August 18, at the Pangting Astro Turf in Mon Village, with the opening round of group-stage fixtures producing plenty of goals and an early glimpse of the competition to come.

Organised by the Mon District Football Association (MDFA), the tournament is being played from August 18 to 24, bringing together teams from across the district in one of Mon’s significant annual football competitions.

With a ₹2.5 lakh prize for the champions, ₹1 lakh for the runners-up and ₹25,000 each for the losing semi-finalists, the tournament carries both prestige and considerable financial incentive for the participating clubs.

Eipa United Begin With a Win

The opening fixture saw Eipa United FC edge Tizit Village 2–1 in a competitive Pool A encounter.

Eipa took the lead through Arap, who found the net in the 15th minute, before Eshong doubled their advantage in the 20th minute.

Tizit Village pulled one back through Daniel N Konyak in the 29th minute, setting up a tense finish. Eipa, however, held on to secure all three points and make a winning start to their campaign.

FC Mighty Make a Statement

In Pool B, FC Mighty produced one of the day’s strongest performances, defeating White Falcon FC 3–0.

The opening goal came through an own goal in the 23rd minute, before Anchao added a second in the 30th minute. Manpong completed the scoring five minutes later to give FC Mighty a comfortable three-goal victory.

The result immediately puts FC Mighty in a strong position in the early Pool B standings.

Tehok FC Overcome Hollong FC

The third fixture saw Tehok FC claim a 3–1 victory over Hollong FC in Pool C.

Hollong started brightly and took the lead through Pentuin in the 8th minute. Tehok responded strongly, with Manyem equalising in the 19th minute.

The game remained finely balanced until the second half, when Tingkaichun Gangmei put Tehok ahead in the 53rd minute. Manyem then completed his brace in the 60th minute to seal a 3–1 victory for Tehok.

A Week of Football Ahead

The tournament features four groups, with teams battling through the group stage for a place in the knockout rounds. The opening results have already set the tone for what promises to be a competitive week of football in Mon.

Beyond the prize money, the M. Noke Wangnao Memorial Trophy continues to provide an important platform for local clubs and players to compete, showcase their talent and represent their communities.

With the tournament running until August 24, there is plenty more to come from Pangting Astro Turf.

Kik It Live will continue to bring you the results, stories and moments from the 18th M. Noke Wangnao Memorial Trophy 2026.