Founded 1982 Current champions India
(3rd title) | Region International | |
 | ||
Most successful team(s) Soviet Union
(4 titles) Current champion India national football team | ||
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.
Contents
The 2007 Nehru Cup took place from August 17–29, 2007 with Syria, Kyrgyzstan, India, Cambodia and Bangladesh when India won their first title after hosting it for the last couple of decades.
2009 Nehru Cup 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. India defeated Syria by 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the final on August 31, 2009.
The 2012 Nehru Cup was the 15th edition of the Nehru Cup and 3rd Nehru Cup since it was revived in 2007. It was held from August 22 to September 2. The tournament was hosted in New Delhi, India. A total of 5 teams participated in the tournament through being invited by the All India Football Federation. The final match happened between India and Cameroon B and India won the match in penalty shoot out 5-4 after the match ended 2-2 after 120 minutes of play.
AIFF revealed on May 17, 2016 that it plans to replace Nehru Cup with a new Champions Cup.
TV Coverage
1st Nehru Cup was covered by Prabir Roy with 5 on-line camera operation. This was long before Doordarshan started the same during the Delhi Asian Games in November 1982. This was inaugurated by Indira Gandhi. This was apparently the first Colour T.V. coverage.
Absence and revival
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 former coach of India 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.
Hopes to have another tournament in 2014 were shelved in August 2014 due to the AIFF not being able to pursue capital investment.
Performance by nation
Notes: