The Maldives national football team has won in an international friendly match against Bangladesh.

Maldives won the match played on Wednesday evening at the Bashundhara Arena in Bangladesh with a score of 1 – 0.

The goal was scored by Maldives in the first half of the match.

Maldives took the lead by scoring a goal against Bangladesh in the 18th minute of the match.

Ali “Sentey” Fasir scored the goal for Maldives.

Fasir scored with a header into the net, capitalizing on a setup from Hamza “Hampu” Mohamed.

Maldives created several more opportunities to score as the match progressed.

This was the first match the Maldives national team has played after a year-long hiatus.

Prior to the match, the national squad last played on 17 October 2023 against Bangladesh in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

Maldives lost the match that time round.

Further, this is the first time Maldives has won against Bangladesh while playing in Bangladesh.

In the international break, Maldives is playing two matches against Bangladesh. Maldives will face Bangladesh again in the second match on Saturday.

Maldives has dedicated this historic win against Bangladesh to the late former national team midfielder Mohamed “Baka” Arif. Baka passed away on 25 June 2024 at the age of 38. After the match against Bangladesh, the national squad was pictured holding a poster, dedicating their win to the late football legend.

A 25-player squad comprising the Maldives’ team for the Bangladesh matches departed for the matches on November 10.

The squad includes Hussain Shareef, Samooh Ali, Hussain Sifaau Yoosuf, Mohamed Irufaan, Ali “Sentey” Fasir, Ibrahim Usama, Haisam Rasheed, Naaiz “Dhaadhu” Hassan, Hamza “Hampu” Mohamed, Hassan Raaif Ahmed, Nishaam Mohamed Rasheed, Mohamed Nizam, Haisham Hassan, Ahmed Aiham, Abdullah Looth Ibrahim, Ahmed Maaish Rasheed, Hassan Shifaz, Ibrahim Mahudhee “Feydhoo Ibbe” Hussain, Hussain Nihaan, Iyaan Abdul Aleem, Mohamed Naaim, Hassan Nazeem, Ahmed “Rizey” Rizwan, Mohamed Yameen and Muzdhaan Hassan.

Coach Ali Suzain decided to give opportunities to several young players in the squad selected for the Maldives.

As such, players from the Under-20 national team were also included in the squad.

In addition to this, 14 players from Maziya Sports and Recreation, the most recent champions of the Maldives, were included in the squad.