The 2018 National Challenge Cup was the 27th edition of domestic association football cup competition in Pakistan. 24 teams participated in the competition held from 21 April to 10 May 2018. The National Challenge Cup was held in Karachi after FIFA lifted its ban on the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF). The matches were played at the KPT Stadium and the All Brothers Football Stadium, Malir.

The tournament took place after a gap of two years due to a power struggle within the Pakistan Football Federation. The Federation was being run by a court-appointed administrator, whose appointment was declared unlawful by a division bench of the High Court which ordered financial and administrative control to be handed over to the legitimate body headed by Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat. FIFA also lifted the ban imposed on PFF after the legitimate body was restored by the court ruling.

The tournament coincided with the appointment of José Antonio Nogueira as head coach of the Pakistan national football team on 16 April 2018. Nogueira reached Karachi on 26 April to witness the event first-hand.

Teams The 24 teams participating in the tournament are as below:

+ 2018 Pakistan National Teams # Name#Name#Name#Name1 K-Electric F.C.7Pakistan Airlines13Pakistan Police19Civil Aviation Authority2WAPDA8National Bank14Pakistan Public Works Department20Karachi United3Pakistan Army9Sui Northern Gas15Sindh Government Press21Hazara Coal4Khan Research Laboratories10Karachi Port Trust16Gwadar Port Authority22Pakistan Ordnance Factories5Pakistan Airforce11Pakistan Navy17Sui Southern Gas23Ashraf Sugar Mills6Falcon12Pakistan Petroleum18State Life24Asia Ghee Mills

Group stage Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D

Group E

Group F

Group G

Group H

Knockout round Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Third position

Finals

Bracket

Top scorers

PositionPlayerClubGoals1Nazir AhmedPakistan Petroleum52AbdullahPakistan Petroleum3MehrullahPakistan Petroleum4Samad KhanPakistan Airforce2Muhammad AhmedWAPDAPervez KoudaGwadar Port AuthorityHafiz Hassan FaizPakistan NavyMuhammadKarachi Port TrustZaid UmarCivil Aviation AuthoritySaeed Abdul AzizCivil Aviation Authority

References

External links 2018 National Challenge Cup GSA