Bengaluru, India: The Maldives National Women's Football Team will take on India in the first of two friendly matches scheduled within a three-day period.
The first match will take place today, with the second scheduled for January 2, marking the first encounters between the two nations in three years. According to the All India Football Federation (AIFF), both games will be hosted at the Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence in Bengaluru.
In an interview with "Adhadhu Sports," Maldives Head Coach Mohamed Nizam expressed that despite the challenges, the team is prepared for the upcoming match after 10 days of training in Malé. He highlighted that the team is in high spirits and eager to make the most of this opportunity to grow and improve together.
"The team has been preparing for the India match since the last 10 days. For now, we don't have a local league but we hope it will begin soon. The players only train in the national camp." Nizam stated.
According to Nizam, India will field their strongest team in these matches as part of their strategy to build a competitive side for the future.
There are a few changes to the Maldives squad compared to the team that participated in the SAFF Women's Championship.
Maldivian football legend Fadhwa Zahir has joined the coaching staff, bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge that is expected to provide a significant boost to the team. Fadhwa steps in for assistant coach Mariyam Mirfath, who is unable to participate with the team this time.
Maldives not the strongest team says Alexandersson
India's Swedish coach, Joakim Alexandersson, stated, "We observed Maldives during the SAFF Championship a few months ago. They may not be the strongest opponents, but I believe we will dominate the game. We can afford to be more patient with the ball, rather than constantly pushing for attacks. By drawing them in a bit, we can create more space to play forward."
India, the most successful team in the South Asian region, has faced Maldives six times in the past. India has won five of these encounters, with the only draw coming in the 2016 South Asian Games, when Maldives held India to a 0-0 draw in Assam.
The two teams first met in 2014 during the Asian Games, where India won 15-0. This was followed by an 8-0 victory for India in that year's SAFF Women's Championship. In 2019, India won both their encounters in the SAFF Championship (6-0) and the South Asian Games (5-0). The last meeting between the teams was nearly three years ago, when India defeated Maldives 9-0.
