Ali Thameem
Maldives is eliminated from the AFC Asian Cup Qualifying 2027, after this evening’s 3-0 defeat against Tajikistan.
Playing at home at Galolhu Stadium for the first time in two years, Maldives national team struggled to capitalize on the advantage, as Tajikistan took the lead early on in the first half.
Tajikistan was awarded a penalty kick in their very first attack into the final third. Although goalkeeper Mohamed Faisal managed to get his gloves on the penalty kick, the rebound ball was struck in by Manuchekhr Safarov.
The second goal came just after the half-hour mark, as Shervoni Mabatshoyev found the net yet again, as he did back in Tajikistan on Thursday. Haisham, Samooh and Nihaan all slid in with tackles to stop the attack, but ultimately failed to do so.
Shervoni went on to score his second goal of the game in the 78th minute, sealing the 3-0 win for Tajikistan.
“Not the result we wanted… there were many issues in our defending” admitted Hussain Nihan, Maldives vice captain, in a post-match interview. “Hopefully, with more domestic games and with improved fitness, we can do better in the match (against Philippines) next month, God-Willing”.
In a post-match press conference, Tajikistan head coach Goran Stevanović praised the performance by certain Maldivian players, stating that “Yes, (Maldives has) very very good players.. Number nine.. eleven.. ten.. they can play in any team in… I think, just in Europe, in my country (Serbia), for example, they can play.. They are fantastic players”.
This was the fourth game for the national team under head coach Mohamed Shiyaz (Mohan). Maldives had won back-to-back games against Sri Lanka with Mohan’s direction, in last month’s victory at the South Asian Super Cup.
Tajikistan is now level with Philippines – both with three wins and a draw – in the race for a spot in the AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia. Maldives is yet to score a point, and have lost all hopes of qualifying. Timor-Leste’s only win came from their game against Maldives.
Two home games remain for Maldives in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifying – against the Philippines on 18 November, and against Timor-Leste on 31 March 2026.
