Maldives’ win over Bangladesh dedicated to late midfielder Arif (Baka)

The Maldives' recent victory over Bangladesh was dedicated to the memory of former midfielder Mohamed Arif (Baka), who passed away suddenly in June.

Arif, the former vice-captain of the national team, passed away after contracting meningococcal disease shortly after returning from Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

National team coach Ali Suzain said that Arif had been a respected and hardworking player and his passing has been felt deeply by his teammates, including former captain Akram Abdul Gani, who said that Arif’s death is a profound loss for the team.

The national team honored Arif's legacy with a commemorative photo following the match.

This match, which marked the Maldives’ first game in a year, ended with a 1-0 victory due to a goal by Ali Fasir (Sentey), who scored off a free kick delivered by Hamza Mohamed, both of whom had played alongside Arif.

The two teams will face off again this Saturday in the current FIFA window.