N9ers Lift the Nahid Cup in a Year of Growth and Remembrance

Emdad Rahman

The N9ers sealed the Nahid Cup 2026 with a confident 3–1 victory over Park Tings, rounding off a landmark year for a tournament that has grown from 8 teams to 18 in just four seasons, and remarkably, with the organisers confirming not a single argument, let alone a card across the whole competition.

That spirit of unity is exactly what the cup was built for.

The final carried extra emotional weight. Both managers: Mansur Rahman for N9ers and Shahadat Ahmed for Park Tings were close friends of Nahid Ahmed, whose tragic death to knife crime shook the community and sparked a movement for awareness, prevention, and youth support. To see two of Nahid’s closest brothers leading their teams out on the biggest stage of the tournament felt like a victory in itself: a reminder that his legacy continues through friendship, football, and community strength.

Each year, the Nahid Foundation honours someone who embodies service to young people. This year’s award went to Enamul Hoque, recognised for his tireless work supporting youth and uplifting the wider community. His contribution reflects the foundation’s mission: turning grief into action, and tragedy into long term change.

The Nahid Cup 2026 was a football tournament and a celebration of growth, unity, and the ongoing fight against knife crime.

The players, volunteers, and supporters showed exactly what community football can be: a safe space, a positive outlet, and a living tribute to a young man whose memory continues to inspire.