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Odisha barged into the Final Round of the 79th Senior Men National Football Championship 2025-26 for Santosh Trophy as they emerged Group-F toppers, winning all three of their league matches, held at RKM Ashram Ground in Narainpur (Chhattisgarh) from 22 to 26 December 2025.
In their third and last league match today, Odisha defeated host Chhattisgarh 3-1. Captain Kartik Hantal, Jitu Muduli and Chandra Mohan Murmu scored the three goals for Odisha. Earlier, Odisha beat Madhya Pradesh 4-0 and Telangana 1-0.
The Final Round will be held in Assam in January 2026. Thirty-five teams contested the group stage, consisting of nine groups. The group winners will join hosts Assam, defending champions West Bengal and runners-up Kerala in the 12-team Final Round that will be hosted in Dhakuakhana and Dhemaji.
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ODISHA SENIOR MEN FOOTBALL TEAM:
Goalkeepers: Soumya Ranjan Das (Khordha), Sidhant Padhan (Bargarh).
Defenders: Rakesh Oram (Odisha Police), Ashok Bag, Bishal Tigga (both Rourkela), Abhinash Muduli (Koraput), Pintu Samal (Cuttack), Hari Sharnka Nayak (Kandhamal).
Mid-fielder: Arpan Lakra (Rourkela), Ranjan Soren (Kandhamal), Chandra Mohan Murmu (Bargarh), Gaurav Negi (Bhubaneswar).
Forwards: Mahesh Hansda, Suresh Khadia, Arnin Lakra (all Rourkela), Ganesh Sethi (Cuttack), Jitu Muduli, Kartik Hantal, Srikant Gadaba (all Koraput), Raisen Tudu (Odisha Police).
Team staff: Akshay Das (Head Coach), Chitta Ranjan Behera (Assistant Coach), Gangadhar Behera (Manager), Saroj Kumar Das (Physiotherapist).
ODISHA RESULTS:
22 December 2025 (League match): Odisha (Kartik Hantal 15, Srikant Gadaba 77, 90+4, Jitu Muduli 75) beat Madhya Pradesh 4-0.
24 December 2025 (League match): Odisha (Kartik Hantal 42) beat Telangana 1-0.
26 December 2025 (League match): Odisha (Jitu Muduli 32, Chandra Mohan Murmu 37, Kartik Hantal 64) beat Chhattisgarh (Avishek Kunjam 51) 3-1.
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TOP: Players and staff members of Odisha Santosh Trophy team pose after securing their berth in the Final Round on 26 December 2025.
RIGHT: Odisha starting line-up poses before their Santosh Trophy opening match against Madhya Pradesh in Narainpur, Chhattisgarh on 22 December 2025.
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