Male' Maldives: Diamond Jubilee International Football Tournament got underway in Malé with Afghanistan securing a narrow victory over hosts Maldives, while Bangladesh and Pakistan played out a goalless draw in the opening fixtures of the four-nation competition.
The tournament, being held from June 1 to June 10, has been organized to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Maldivian football and serves as an important preparatory event ahead of the 2026 SAFF Championship. Alongside Maldives, the competition features Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Afghanistan Begin Campaign with Victory Over Maldives
Afghanistan made a winning start to the tournament with a 1-0 victory over Maldives at the Galolhu National Stadium.
The decisive moment came in the 80th minute, when debutant Roman Fazi capitalized on a loose ball inside the Maldivian penalty area before firing a composed finish into the far corner beyond the reach of the goalkeeper.
Maldives had created several opportunities throughout the match but were unable to convert them. Captain Hamza Mohamed (Hampu) came close on multiple occasions during the first half, while Ibrahim Waheed Hassan (Ibbe) tested Afghan goalkeeper Faisal Ahmad Hamidi after the break with a well-struck effort that was comfortably saved.
The result marked Afghanistan's third consecutive victory over Maldives. The Afghans previously defeated Maldives in an international friendly in 2017 and during the group stage of the 2015 SAFF Championship. Maldives' most recent victory over Afghanistan came in the third-place playoff of the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup, which was held in Malé.
Afghanistan will continue their campaign on Thursday when they face Bangladesh in what could prove to be a crucial fixture in the race for a place in the final.
Bangladesh and Pakistan Forced to Settle for Draw
Earlier in the tournament, Bangladesh Under-23 and Pakistan played out a hard-fought 0-0 draw in the opening match of the competition.
Bangladesh enjoyed the better opportunities during the first half and nearly broke the deadlock through Mohammad Mursed Ali, whose low strike was expertly saved by Pakistan goalkeeper Yousuf Ijaz Butt after being set up by Mohammad Rabby Hossen Rahul.
Pakistan responded after halftime, with Alamgir Ali Khan Ghazi attempting his luck from distance, although his effort drifted wide of the target.
Bangladesh continued to press forward and appealed for a penalty after captain Abdullah Iqbal challenged Mirajul Islam inside the area. However, referee Mohamad Javiz waved away the appeals and instead cautioned Mirajul for dissent.
The turning point arrived in the 63rd minute when Bangladesh captain Monjurur Rahman Manik collided with Pakistan goalkeeper Butt while attempting to head the ball. The referee immediately produced a straight red card, reducing Bangladesh to ten men for the remainder of the contest.
Pakistan looked to capitalize on the numerical advantage and came close through several late opportunities. Ali Haider Shah delivered a dangerous cross to Ali Khan Niazi, who found himself unmarked inside the six-yard box, but Bangladesh goalkeeper Mohammad Mehedi Hasan Srabon reacted brilliantly to divert the effort behind for a corner.
Srabon continued to impress, safely collecting the resulting corner before later denying further Pakistani pressure. Otis Jan Mohammed Khan also saw an effort blocked by Bangladesh defenders, while Mohammad Hayan Khattak fired narrowly wide as Pakistan searched for a late winner.
Despite playing more than 25 minutes with ten men, Bangladesh successfully held on for a point, with goalkeeper Srabon earning the Man of the Match award for his outstanding display.
Tournament Takes Shape
Following the opening round of matches, Afghanistan sit atop the standings with three points, while Bangladesh and Pakistan each have one point. Maldives remain without a point but will have opportunities to recover as the tournament progresses.
The next round of fixtures will see Maldives look to bounce back from defeat, while Afghanistan and Bangladesh prepare for a key encounter that could have significant implications for qualification to the tournament final.
