Former Maldives goalkeeper Ibrahim Ifrah Areef (Ifra) passes away at 36

Ibrahim Ifrah Areef (Ifra), the former Maldives national team goalkeeper who was part of the historic 2008 SAFF Championship-winning squad, passed away tonight at the age of 36.

Ifrah suffered a stroke on Monday and was admitted to ADK Hospital in critical condition. He was diagnosed with a hemorrhagic stroke, which led to a brain hemorrhage. Surgery was performed on Monday evening to remove the bleeding, but as the blood couldn't be completely cleared, he was placed in a medically induced coma to reduce brain swelling.

Widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the Maldives during his time, Ifra began his career at Club Valencia and rose to prominence at Maziya, becoming the country’s most promising young keeper. He also captained the Maldives U-19 national team, and represented the country in the U-23 squad at the Asian Games, South Asian Games, and Olympic qualifiers, where his standout performances are still remembered.

Ifra first joined the senior national team in 2007 and remained part of the squad for several years. His career highlight was being a member of the 2008 SAFF Championship team, where he served as a reserve goalkeeper behind experienced players Imran Mohamed and Hassan Rameez (Timotee).

Over the years, Ifra played for some of the Maldives’ top clubs, New Radiant, Victory SC, BG Sports, and TC Sports, leaving his mark with key contributions that helped shape many of their most memorable moments.