The final match of the ‘Ispahani-Prothom Alo Inter-University Football Tournament 2024,’ organized for the second time, was held Monday at the Daffodil International University field, located in Birulia, Savar, Dhaka, within the Daffodil Smart City. In the final, Daffodil International University emerged as champions by defeating American International University with a score of 2–1. Daffodil’s Mahbubur Rahman Jewel won the top scorer award in the tournament by scoring 10 goals.
The striker, who has previously played for teams like Police and Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi, played a pivotal role in Daffodil’s journey to becoming champions. With three “Man of the Match” titles in six matches, Mahbubur also clinched the award for the tournament’s Best Player. In the final, the “Man of the Match” award went to Daffodil’s number 10, Md. Sohanur Rahman Sohan. The tournament awarded a cash prize of 5 lakh BDT to the champion team and 3 lakh BDT to the runner-up team.
This year, a total of 42 universities participated in the tournament, including 24 from Dhaka, 10 from Chittagong, and 4 from Khulna and Rajshahi. The regional football matches were successfully held at various venues: on November 17 and 18 at the M.A. Aziz Stadium in Chittagong, on November 21 at the Muktijuddho Smriti Stadium in Rajshahi, on November 23 at the District Stadium in Khulna, and from November 27 to December 3 at the Daffodil International University field in Dhaka.
The final phase of the tournament saw the group champion teams from the four regions compete in the quarterfinals and semifinals, which were all held at the Daffodil International University field in Dhaka. Yesterday, Sunday, the first semifinal saw American International University secure a 1-0 victory against Rajshahi University. In the second match, Daffodil International University defeated last year’s runner-up, Fareast International University, with an impressive 3-0 scoreline. Additionally, in the quarterfinals, last year’s champion, Gono University, was eliminated after a 2-0 defeat by Rajshahi University.
The final match was graced by several distinguished guests, including Mirza Ahmed Ispahani and Emaad Ispahani, directors of the tournament’s sponsor, Ispahani Group; Dr. Md. Sabur Khan, chairman and founder of the Board of Trustees of Daffodil International University; Professor Dr. Munjur H. Khan, proctor of American International University-Bangladesh.
Sponsored by the Ispahani Group, and Organized by the Daily Prothom Alo the tournament was held for the first time in 2023. It featured a total of 32 football teams comprising students from 21 universities in Dhaka, 8 in Chittagong, and 3 in Cumilla. The event’s media partner was ATN Bangla.
