Dimapur, July 24, 2026: Twelve-year-old footballer Wangshem Konyak of Tanhai village in Nagaland’s Mon district received a warm welcome at Dimapur Airport on Friday after returning from Europe, where he helped India’s Minerva Academy Football Club U-12 team achieve a remarkable double triumph by winning the Helsinki Cup in Finland and the Gothia Cup in Sweden.
A felicitation programme was organised at Dimapur Airport by the Konyak Students’ Union Dimapur, Konyak Union Dimapur, KNSKD, Tanhai Students’ Union Dimapur and Tanhai Union Dimapur to honour the young footballer for his achievement on the international stage.
Wangshem’s achievement comes as part of Minerva Academy FC’s impressive 2026 European campaign. The team won the Helsinki Cup in Finland after defeating defending champions HJK Helsinki 1–0 in the final. The tournament, held from July 6 to 11, featured 1,729 teams from 18 countries across venues in Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa.
The team then went on to compete in the prestigious Gothia Cup, held in Gothenburg, Sweden, from July 12 to 18. Widely regarded as the world’s largest and most international youth football tournament, the 2026 edition brought together 1,956 teams from 78 countries and featured approximately 4,900 matches. Minerva Academy emerged champions in the U-12 category after defeating Brazil’s RS Sports 2–1 in the final.
Speaking to the media after his arrival in Dimapur, Wangshem said the final against Brazil was the toughest match of the tournament. He expressed his dream of representing India at the senior international level and named football legend Lionel Messi as his biggest inspiration.
The young footballer also revealed that he has been playing football since the age of three.
Wangshem’s journey from Tanhai village to the international football stage has brought pride to Nagaland and highlighted the growing potential of young football talent from the Northeast.
With two major international youth titles now added to his young career, the 12-year-old footballer will be hoping to continue his development and one day realise his dream of wearing the Indian national team jersey.
