2023–24 PFF National Challenge Cup

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.

2023–2024 PFF National Challenge Cup
National Challenge Cup
Tournament details
CountryPakistan
Dates24 January 2023 – 12 May 2024
Teams27
Defending championsWAPDA
Final positions
ChampionsWAPDA
Runner-upSA Gardens
Third placePakistan Army
Fourth placeHigher Education Commission
Tournament statistics
Top goal scorer(s)Shayak Dost (8 goals)
Best playerMohammad Umar Hayat
Best goalkeeperSalman ul Haq
All statistics correct as of 12 May 2024.

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.

Format

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

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Pakistan Navy 2 1 0 1 1 1 0 3 Advance to Second phase
2 Pakistan Police 2 1 0 1 1 1 0 3
3 Gwadar Port Authority (W) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Updated to match(es) played on 14 February 2023. Source: PFF (Twitter)
(W) ?

Gwadar Port Authority withdrew due to their internal issues.[9]

Pakistan Navy1–0Pakistan Police
Noman 69'
KPT Stadium, Karachi
Pakistan Police1–0Pakistan Navy
Hasnain 46'
KPT Stadium, Karachi

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)
Pak Afghan Clearing Agency6–1NIMSO
Sharaf ?', ?', ?'
 ? ?'
 ? ?'
 ? ?'		 ? ?'
Essa Khan Football Ground, Chaman
MILO1–1Hazara Coal Company
Mohammad Saleem ?' Syed Haider 12'
MILO0–3Pak Afghan Clearing Agency
Sharaf 16'
Yar Mohammad 36', 53'
Hazara Coal Company1–3NIMSO
Pak Afghan Clearing Agency?–?Hazara Coal Company
Essa Khan Football Ground, Chaman
NIMSO1–0MILO
Ali Reza ?'
NIMSO1–1Pak Afghan Clearing Agency
Ali Reza 11' Manan 63'
Yazdan Khan Model High School, Quetta
Hazara Coal Company1–2MILO
Jamshed Ahmad 79' Saleem 83', 86'
Yazdan Khan Model High School, Quetta
Hazara Coal Company?–?Pak Afghan Clearing Agency
MILO0–1NIMSO
Ali Reza ?'
NIMSO?–?Hazara Coal Company
Pak Afghan Clearing Agency?–?MILO
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)
Pakistan Railways0–0Ashraf Sugar Mills
Gulzar Sadiq Park, Bahawalpur
Asia Ghee Mills?–?Hussain Textile
Gulzar Sadiq Park, Bahawalpur
Pakistan Railways0–0Hussain Textile
Gulzar Sadiq Park, Bahawalpur
Asia Ghee Mills2–1Ashraf Sugar Mills
Gulzar Sadiq Park, Bahawalpur
Pakistan Railways1–3Asia Ghee Mills
Siraj Uddin 70' Fareed Ullah 12'
Mohammad Jamil 62'
Mohammad Hasan 75'
Gulzar Sadiq Park, Bahawalpur
Hussain Textiles0–2Ashraf Sugar Mills
h Nasir 12'
Kashif ?' (pen.)
Gulzar Sadiq Park, Bahawalpur
Ashraf Sugar Mills0–1Pakistan Railways
Asmat Khan ?'
Gulzar Sadiq Park, Bahawalpur
Hussain Textile2–4Asia Ghee Mills
Mohammad Muawiya ?'
Syed Moosa Qasim 30'		 Amir Sohail 13'
Syed Haider Ali 51'
Mohammad Hasan 55', 89'
Gulzar Sadiq Park, Bahawalpur
Hussain Home Textile0–0Pakistan Railways
Gulzar Sadiq Park, Bahawalpur
Ashraf Sugar Mills2–1Asia Ghee Mills
Muhammad Umair Ashraf ?', ?' Hassan ?'
Gulzar Sadiq Park, Bahawalpur
Pakistan Railways1–1Asia Ghee Mills
Sirajuddin 20' Mohammad Hassan 67'
Gulzar Sadiq Park, Bahawalpur
Ashraf Sugar Mills0–2Hussain Textiles
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)
Masha United3–0Klash Mills
Musaddaq ?', ?', ?'
Panther Ground, Faisalabad
SA Farms2–2Otto Cranes
Hussain 3'
Sufyan 4'		 Haider 37'
Hussain 69'
Panther Ground, Faisalabad
Masha United1–1Otto Cranes
Ikram 45' Naveed 74'
Panther Ground, Faisalabad
Klash Mills0–1SA Farms
Dhanola Ground, Faisalabad
Masha United4–2SA Farms
Ikram ?', ?'
Musaddiq ?'
Ibrar ?'		 Hamza ?', ?'
Panther Ground, Faisalabad
Klash Mills0–3Otto Cranes
Haider ?', ?'
Hasnain ?'
Dhanola Ground, Faisalabad
Klash Mills0–1Masha United
Nadeem ?'
Dhanola Ground, Faisalabad
Otto Cranes2–0SA Farms
Hussain ?'
Sagar ?'
Agriculture University Ground, Faisalabad
Otto Cranes2–1Masha United
Abdul Rehman 14'
Hussain Shah 58'		 Usman 68'
Agriculture University Ground, Faisalabad
SA Farms6–0Klash Mills
Ali ?', ?', ?'
Sufyan ?', ?'
Hussain ?'
Panther Ground, Faisalabad
SA Farms4–2Masha United
Ali 14', ?'
Atif ?'
Usama ?'		 Yousuf 45', 90'
Panther Ground, Faisalabad
Otto Cranes4–1Klash Mills
Haider Ali ?', ?', ?', ?' 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)
WAPDA2–2Higher Education Commission
SA Gardens3–0Saif Textile
Shakeel Ahmed 48'
Umair 72'
Murtaza 88'
SA Garden Ground, Lahore
SA Gardens1–1WAPDA
Omar Saeed 16' Faisal 86'
SA Gardens Stadium, Lahore
Saif Textile0–2Higher Education Commission
Fame Football Ground, Lahore
WAPDA5–0Saif Textile
Faheem 1'
Dost 9', 56', 61'
Uzair 74'
Punjab University Football Ground, Lahore
Higher Education Commission0–0SA Gardens
Punjab University Football Ground, Lahore
Higher Education Commission0–0WAPDA
Punjab University Football Ground, Lahore
Saif Textile1–3SA Gardens
Abdul Kalam 86' Mohammad Umair 32'
Murtaza 42'
Samnan 86'
Fame Football Ground, Lahore
Saif Textile0–3WAPDA
Adeel Ali 35'
Dost 35'
Faheem 41'
Fame Football Ground, Lahore
SA Gardens2–2Higher Education Commission
Murtaza ?'
Touqeer ?'		 Waqas ?'
Rehman ?'
SA Gardens Stadium, Lahore
WAPDA1–0SA Gardens
Adeel Ali 11'
Punjab University Football Ground, Lahore
Higher Education Commission0–1Saif Textile
Asad ?'
Punjab University Football Ground, Lahore

Group F

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Khan Research Laboratories 6 5 1 0 0 0 0 16 Advance to Second phase
2 Pakistan Army 6 4 1 1 0 0 0 13
3 Muslim Hands 6 1 0 5 0 0 0 3
4 POF Wah 6 1 0 5 0 0 0 3
Updated to match(es) played on 14 February 2023. Source: PFF (Twitter)
Khan Research Laboratories7–0POF Wah
Moin Ahmed ?', ?', ?'
Waheed ?', ?'
? ?'
? ?'
KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi
Muslim Hands0–2Pakistan Army
Afzaal 64'
Dabeer Hussain 72'
Municipal Stadium, Rawalpindi
Muslim Hands0–1Khan Research Laboratories
Iftikhar Ali 90'
Municipal Stadium, Rawalpindi
Pakistan Army4–0POF Wah
Qadeer Hussain ?', ?', ?'
? ?'
Army Stadium, Rawalpindi
Khan Research Laboratories0–0Pakistan Army
KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi
POF Wah1–0Muslim Hands
Zain-ul-Aabdeen ?'
POF Ground, Wah Cantt
POF Wah0–2Khan Research Laboratories
Iftikhar Ali ?'
Waheed ?'
POF Ground, Wah Cantt
Pakistan Army3–0Muslim Hands
Afzaal 45'
Sarfaraz 65'
Abrar 78'
Army Stadium, Rawalpindi
Pakistan Army0–2Khan Research Laboratories
Waheed 17', 48'
Army Stadium, Rawalpindi
Muslim Hands5–3POF Wah
Ali ?'
Shahid ?'
Asim ?'
Tufail ?'
Sajid ?'		 Zain ?', ?'
Haider ?'
Municipal Stadium, Rawalpindi
Khan Research Laboratories2–0Muslim Hands
Waheed 41'
Najeebullah 90'
KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi
POF Wah0–3Pakistan Army
Qadeer Hussain ?', ?', ?'
POF Ground, Wah Cantt

Group G

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Pakistan Air Force 6 4 1 1 0 0 0 13 Advance to Second phase
2 WSTC 6 3 1 2 0 0 0 10
3 Mamsons Builders 6 2 1 3 0 0 0 7
4 BHCC 6 1 1 4 0 0 0 4
Updated to match(es) played on 14 February 2023. Source: PFF (Twitter)
WSTC2–2Pakistan Air Force
Mamsons Builders1–1BHCC
Mohammad Rizwan 31' Afridi 74'
WSTC1–2Mamsons Builders
BHCC0–3Pakistan Air Force
Mamsons Builders1–3Pakistan Air Force
Waleed 32' Samad ?'
Essa ?'
Muhammad Mujahid ?'
WSTC2–1BHCC
Zahid ?'
Rizwan ?'		 Riaz ?'
Pakistan Air Force4–0WSTC
Abdul Samad 46'
Essa 70'
Mansoor Khan 75'
Faisal 88'
PAF Complex, Peshawar
BHCC2–1Mamsons Builders
Rehmatullah 53'
Danish 76'		 Waleed 42'
Pakistan Air Force3–0BHCC
Fahim 45'
Essa 62'
Naik Alam 72'
PAF Complex, Peshawar
Mamsons Builders1–3WSTC
Adeel Younas ?' Rizwan ?', ?'
Maab ?'
BHCC0–1WSTC
Rizwan 88'
Pakistan Air Force1–2Mamsons Builders
Samad ?' Taha ?'
Adeel Younas ?'
PAF Complex, Peshawar

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
NIMSO1–3Higher Education Commission
Zulfiqar Ali ?' Fakhar Abbas ?'
Ahmed Hassan ?'
Hammad Hassan ?'
Pak Afghan Clearing Agency0–4Pakistan Army
Qadeer Hussain ?', ?'
Abrar ?'
Salman ?'
Pakistan Army3–1Higher Education Commission
Afzaal 15'
Umair Ali 28'
Haris 52'		 Muhammad Inam 83'
Pak Afghan Clearing Agency2–1NIMSO
Sharab Khan ?', ?' Musaveer ?'
Pak Afghan Clearing Agency0–1Higher Education Commission
Haleem ?'
NIMSO0–3Pakistan Army
Anees ?', ?'
Hassan ?'

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Khan Research Laboratories 3 2 0 1 8 3 +5 6 Advance to Quarter-finals
2 Pakistan Navy 3 2 0 1 6 2 +4 6
3 Masha United 3 1 1 1 1 4 −3 4
4 SA Farms 3 0 1 2 0 6 −6 1
Updated to match(es) played on 5 May 2024. Source: GSA
SA Farms0–0Masha United
Khan Research Laboratories1–3Pakistan Navy
Ali Agha ?' Noman Dodo ?'
Muhammad Naeem ?'
Abdul Rehman ?'
Pakistan Navy0–1Masha United
Mujahid Hussain ?'
Khan Research Laboratories3–0SA Farms
Najeebullah 51', 90'
Waqar Baloch 77'
Khan Research Laboratories4–0Masha United
Shahzaib ?'
Najeebullah ?'
Waheed ?'
Ali Agha ?'
SA Farms0–3Pakistan Navy
Nauman ?'
Farhanullah ?'
Naveed ?'

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
WSTC1–1Pakistan Police
Mohib Ullah ?' Qurban Ali Hazara ?'
Otto Cranes2–5WAPDA
Sagar Masih ?', ?' Dost ?', ?'
Ahmed Faheem ?', ?'
Umar Hayat ?'
WAPDA3–0Pakistan Police
Ghazi ?', ?'
Dost ?'
Otto Cranes2–3WSTC
Muhammad Saad ?'
Saddam Hussain ?'		 Raza ?', ?'
Zaid ?'
WSTC1–3WAPDA
? ?' Dost ?', ?', ?'
Otto Cranes2–1Pakistan Police
Muhammad Saad ?'
Muhammad Shahzaib ?'		 Fateh ?'

Group D

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 SA Gardens 3 2 1 0 8 5 +3 7 Advance to Quarter-finals
2 Pakistan Air Force 3 2 0 1 8 3 +5 6
3 Asia Ghee Mills 3 1 1 1 1 3 −2 4
4 Pakistan Railways 3 0 0 3 3 9 −6 0
Updated to match(es) played on 6 May 2024. Source: GSA
SA Gardens5–3Pakistan Railways
Roger ?', ?'
Tauqeer ?'
Murtaza ?'
Umair ?'		 Abdul Rehman ?'
Nabeel ?'
Masood ?'
Pakistan Air Force3–0Asia Ghee Mills
Samad Khan Wazir ?', ?'
Faisal Baloch ?'
Asia Ghee Mills1–0Pakistan Railways
Muhammad Suleman Ali ?'
Pakistan Air Force2–3SA Gardens
Haseeb Khan ?'
Faisal ?'		 Murtaza Hussain ?', ?'
Samnan ?'
SA Gardens0–0Asia Ghee Mills
Pakistan Air Force3–0Pakistan Railways
Mujahid ?', ?'
Fahimullah ?'

Knockout round

Bracket
 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
7 May – 15:30
 
 
Pakistan Army1
 
10 May – 21:00
 
Pakistan Navy0
 
Pakistan Army0
 
8 may – 15:30
 
WAPDA2
 
WAPDA1
 
12 May – 20:30
 
Pakistan Air Force0
 
WAPDA1
 
7 May – 15:30
 
SA Gardens0
 
Khan Research Laboratories0
 
10 May – 18:00
 
Higher Education Commission1
 
Higher Education Commission0 (2)
 
8 May – 15:30
 
SA Gardens (p)0 (3) Third place
 
SA Gardens1
 
12 May – 17:00
 
WSTC0
 
Pakistan Army4
 
 
Higher Education Commission0
 

Quarter-finals
Khan Research Laboratories0–1Higher Education Commission
Farrukh ?'
Pakistan Army1–0Pakistan Navy
Qadeer Hussain ?'
WAPDA1–0Pakistan Air Force
Dost ?'
SA Gardens1–0WSTC
Umar Sadozai ?'

Semi-finals
SA Gardens0–0 (a.e.t.)Higher Education Commission
Penalties
3–2
Pakistan Army0–2WAPDA
Faheem 58'
Dost 90'

Third position
Pakistan Army4–0Higher Education Commission

Final
SA Gardens0–1WAPDA
Yousaf Ahmed 17'

Awards
As of 12 May 2024[10][11]
Award Recipient Club
Top Scorer Shayak Dost WAPDA
Most Valuable Player Mohammad Umar Hayat WAPDA
Best Goalkeeper Salman ul Haq SA Gardens
Best Referee Irshad ul Haq -
Best Assistant Referee Muhammad Ali -
Fair play - Higher Education Commission

References
  1. 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.
  2. "The resumption of football | Sports | thenews.com.pk". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  3. "Departments reluctant to form teams before NC calendar". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  4. "PFF strives for revival of departmental football". The Nation. 2022-12-03. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  5. Wasim, Umaid (2023-01-25). "Domestic football returns as Challenge Cup kicks off". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  6. "PFF National Challenge Cup kicks off today". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  7. "PFF announces dates of final round of National Challenge Cup 2023". The Nation. 2023-07-20. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  8. Reporter, The Newspaper's Sports (2024-04-23). "Jinnah Stadium to host Challenge Cup knockouts". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  9. "Police edge Navy in Challenge Cup". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  10. Raza, Abdul (2024-05-12). "WAPDA wins National Challenge Cup 2023-24 Title". The Sports Side. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  11. "WAPDA retain Challenge Cup". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
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