Kathmandu, Nepal (August 26) - Afshyn Naseer and Raeef Rauf are officiating at the SAFF U20 Championship 2024 in Nepal.

Each association is allocated a quota of refereeing spots for the SAFF competition, and Afshyn Naseer and Raeef Rauf are representing the Maldives.

Afshyn is making his debut in international competitions, while Raeef holds a FIFA Assistant Referee badge for this year. Afshyn earned his chance due to his experience officiating top-tier competitions in the Maldives, confirming his eligibility for the SAFF level.

So far in the tournament, Afshyn and Raeef have officiated in three matches: two in the group stage and one in the semi-final.

Afshyn served as the first referee for the group game between Bangladesh and Nepal and as the fourth official for the match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Raeef served as the assistant referee for both of these matches and also officiated as the assistant referee in the semi-final between India and Bangladesh. He was also on the line for last year's SAFF U16 final.

Afshyn was injured during the first match and is currently recovering, but he hopes to return to the sidelines for the final between Nepal and Bangladesh.

Last year, Maldivian referees officiated in all SAFF Competitions.