Maldives wins supercup, first international triumph in the last 7 years

After a seven-year drought in international triumphs, Maldivian football has secured an international title by winning the South Asian Super Cup 2025 Championship.

The South Asian Super Cup, originally planned for four competing nations, ended up in a final featuring just two teams, Maldives and Sri Lanka.

The Maldives' most recent international victory came in 2018, when they won the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship held in India. This triumph offers a vital chance to revitalize the essence of Maldivian football, which has experienced a downturn since that time.

In the opening match of the two-legged competition at Colombo's Race Course Stadium on September 6, Maldives convincingly won against Sri Lanka with a score of 3-0. The Tuesday evening second leg ended in a 1-1 tie, ensuring a 4-1 aggregate win for the Maldives.

In the first 15 minutes, Maldives generated three distinct scoring chances. In contrast to the initial meeting, Sri Lanka's defense showcased enhanced stability.

Maldives ended the stalemate in the 66th minute. After a cross from Ali Fasir, Naiz Hassan redirected Ibrahim Mahudhy's header into the net.

In the final moments of the match, Maldives scored to level the game.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu congratulated the Maldivian team on their win through a post on X, voicing his pride in the national team's success in the South Asian Super Cup.