Ali Thameem
Naifaru Chelsea have proved their persistence on the Kendhikulhudhoo Football Ground, knocking out Jibillee SC to reach the final of The Mangrove Island Football Championship for the third consecutive year.
The runners-up of the past two editions of the championship, Naifaru Chelsea have not conceded a single goal in the entire tournament. Prior to meeting Jibillee, the club representing the capital of Lhaviyani Atoll, had defeated both Maafaru FC and Manadhoo SC, scoring ten goals in the process.
Chelsea won tonight’s semifinal without conceding a goal as well, and scoring three past the star-studded debutants of Jibillee SC.
Naifaru Chelsea’s Mohamed Fasir was the one to open the scoring. A in the 29th minute, firing in low from just inside the penalty area.
Four minutes later, Chelsea’s Al Haji Gero hit the cross bar from a direct freekick, the huddle in front of the rebound ball resulted in a serious injury to defender Hisham Saleem of Jibillee SC, who was ambulanced off the pitch.
Chelsea widened the lead just before halftime. Chelsea winger Mohamed Naaim intercepted the ball in the Jibillee half of the pitch, before combining with Yaya Billity and shooting inside the near post from a narrow angle.
Naaim played a huge role in the counter-attack that led to Chelsea’s third goal: heading the rebound ball from his shot, which then hit the crossbar before Ahmed Ashraf tapped in to make it 3-0.
Naifaru Chelsea had faced heartbreaking defeats in both of the past two finals, falling to Kendhikulhudhoo’s native club Wind Warriors on both occasions.
Chelsea will take on Maziya Juniors in the final match of TMIFC 2026 this Thursday.
