Services defeat Kerala to clinch 8th Santosh trophy

New Delhi, Feb 09, 2026 : Services clinched the 79th National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy after edging past Kerala 1-0 in the final at Dhakuakhana Stadium in Assam yesterday. The victory secured Services their eighth Santosh Trophy title.

The decisive goal came deep into extra time in the 109th minute, when striker Abhishek Pawar finished calmly from a well-delivered cross by Shubham Rana. Kerala mounted sustained pressure in the closing stages, but captain and goalkeeper Gagandeep Singh organised the defence superbly to protect the narrow lead. Having last lifted the trophy in the 2023-24 season, Services repeated history by defeating Kerala once again in the final.