LAHORE, May 29: Punjab will face Navy in the first quarterfinals of the 2nd national U-21 football championship at Railways Stadium on Tuesday. After the completion of 21 league matches at six centres, eight teams have qualified for the quarterfinals.

Besides Punjab and Navy the other six teams are, Afghan Club, Wah's POF, Balochistan, Mardan Club, Navy and Army.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has decided to conduct wrist test of every player of the eight qualified teams.

Earlier, the PFF had announced to conduct the wrist test of all 19 participating teams.

Punjab, runners-up in 1991, emerged group 'A' leaders, beating Northern Areas 6-0 and Karachi's Mauripur Baloch 3-0.

Navy defeated Islamabad 4-1 and Mardan Club 5-0 in Group-E, before losing 2-1 to little-known City Club of Lahore.

In Group B, Afghan Club made the last on the basis of its win against Sindh on penalty stroke 5-4.

On points table both the teams were tied with four points each and also scoring four goals and conceding one goal apiece.

Quarterfinals schedule:

Afghan Club v Army (May 31), POF v Mardan FC (June 1), Balochistan v Sindh (June 2).

The semifinals will be played on June 3 and 4 and the final on June 6.

Opinion

Editorial

A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...
GB polls’ aftermath
Updated 11 Jun, 2026

GB polls’ aftermath

The new administration must address the region’s issues proactively.
Peace in retreat
11 Jun, 2026

Peace in retreat

THE ceasefire announced in April was supposed to create space for negotiations. Instead, it has been repeatedly...
A few good men
11 Jun, 2026

A few good men

IT was a brave move, no doubt. This Tuesday, in the land of the Afghan Taliban, a few good men decided to take a...