Rewa open IDC title defence with emphatic 5-0 demolition of Nasinu

Defending champions Rewa made an immediate statement at the 2026 FMF Inter-District Championship, opening their campaign with a commanding 5-0 victory over Nasinu at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.

Merrill Nand scored twice for the Delta Tigers, while Mohammed Ramzan Khan, Josaia Sela and Epeli Valevou also found the net as Rewa took early control of a demanding Group A that also contains Labasa and hosts Suva.

The result was particularly striking considering how competitive the same fixture had been only a few weeks earlier. Nasinu pushed Rewa throughout their Battle of the Giants semifinal and twice took the lead before eventually losing 3-2. Their IDC reunion produced a completely different contest, with Rewa taking control during the first half and never allowing the Giant Killers to build similar momentum.

Ramzan Khan opened Rewa’s account before Nand added another to send the defending champions into half-time with a 2-0 advantage. It provided the Delta Tigers with the platform they needed, while Nasinu — who entered the competition following their encouraging BOG campaign — struggled to reproduce the attacking threat that had made them one of September’s surprise packages.

Rewa increased the pressure after the break. Sela added the third before Nand struck again to complete his brace, continuing a productive period for the forward after he also scored during Rewa’s run to the BOG final last month. Valevou, the player whose two goals had eventually eliminated Nasinu in that semifinal, was on target again to complete the 5-0 scoreline.

Even the five-goal margin did not completely satisfy the Rewa camp. Assistant coach Priyant Mannu said his side had missed more than five other opportunities and stressed that finishing will need to improve when the level of opposition rises. Rewa also used their comfortable position to rotate players during the second half, an important consideration in an IDC schedule that gives teams very little recovery time between group matches.

There was one negative moment for the champions. Substitute Neemish Prasad was shown a straight red card in the 71st minute for violent conduct, leaving Rewa to complete the match with ten players. By then, however, the contest was already firmly under their control.

For Nasinu, the defeat represents a difficult start to a group that was already considered one of the toughest of the tournament. Their IDC squad is also different from the team that impressed at the BOG, with Paul Francis and Bruce Hughes — two important attacking figures during the season — not included in the final tournament squad. That places greater responsibility on players such as Billy Afi, Emmanuel Etim and Maikah Dau as Nasinu attempt to respond.

Rewa, meanwhile, could hardly have asked for a stronger opening to the defence of their crown. Five goals, a clean sheet and three points immediately strengthen their position in Group A, although their next test should provide a clearer measure of their title credentials.

The Delta Tigers face Labasa on Wednesday at 7:30pm, while Nasinu must quickly regroup before meeting hosts Suva at 3:30pm.