The Nehru Cup (more formally known as the ONGC Nehru Cup) is an international association football tournament organised by the All India Football Federation (AIFF). It was launched in 1982, but was not held from 1998 to 2006. After the trophy was won by Iraq in 1997, it was reinstated only in 2007.
The 2007 Nehru Cup International Football Tournament took place from August 17-29, 2007 with Syria, Kyrgyzstan, India, Cambodia and Bangladesh.
2009 Nehru Cup International Football Tournament took place in New Delhi from August 19 to August 31, 2009. After the participation of Palestine was cancelled by the AIFF, the tournament was changed into a round-robin format with five teams playing each other and the top two clashing in the final[1]. India defeated Syria by 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the final on August 31, 2009.
Contents |
The tournament was shelved after 1997 due to lack of sponsorship and other reasons. It was revived in 2007 mainly due to persuasion by the current coach of Indian national football team Bob Houghton. The original rolling trophy could not be recovered from Iraq, and a new trophy was designed.
The tournament held during 2007 was called the ONGC Nehru Cup, to acknowledge sponsorship from the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation.
India won the tournament defeating the much higher ranked Syria in the final by a 1-0 margin, on a goal scored by N. P. Pradeep in the 44th minute on a back pass from Baichung Bhutia.
| Year | Host | Final | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | Score | Runner-up | ||
| 1982 Details |
Kolkata, India | Uruguay |
2 - 0 | China |
| 1983 Details |
Cochin, India | Hungary Olympic |
2 - 1 |
China |
| 1984 Details |
Kolkata, India | Poland |
1 - 0 | China |
| 1985 Details |
Cochin, India | Soviet Union |
2 - 1 | Yugoslavia |
| 1986 Details |
Thiruvananthapuram, India | Soviet Union XI |
1 - 0 | China |
| 1987 Details |
Calicut, India | Soviet Union XI |
2 - 0 | Bulgaria Olympic |
| 1988 Details |
Siliguri, India | Soviet Union Olympic |
2 - 0 | Poland Olympic |
| 1989 Details |
Margao, India | Hungary XI |
2 - 1 | Soviet Union XI |
| 1991 Details |
Thiruvananthapuram, India | Romania B |
3 - 1 | Hungary |
| 1993 Details |
Madras, India | North Korea |
2 - 0 | Romania B |
| 1995 Details |
Kolkata, India | Iraq |
1 - 0 | Russia |
| 1997 Details |
Kochi, India | Iraq |
3 - 1 | Uzbekistan |
| 2007 Details |
New Delhi, India | India |
1 - 0 | Syria |
| 2009 Details |
New Delhi, India | India |
1 – 1 (a.e.t.)
5 - 4 (Penalty) |
Syria |
| Wins | Nations | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 4 times | Soviet Union | 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 |
| 2 times | Hungary | 1983,1989 |
| 2 times | Iraq | 1995, 1997 |
| 2 times | India | 2007, 2009 |
| 1 time | Uruguay | 1982 |
| 1 time | Poland | 1984 |
| 1 time | Romania | 1991 |
| 1 time | North Korea | 1993 |