Shiyaz tells national team Philippines match was his last

National football team coach Mohamed Shiyaz (Mohan) told his players post-match that the game they played against Philippines on Tuesday was his last.

Shiyaz signed a three-month contract with FAM in August. His work with the national team has come to an end under the contract. He told the national team that it was his "last match" due to there being no work left as per the contract.

However, a source from the team has said that Shiyaz had told them this news with a tone that he would not be coming back.

"The coach said that that was his last match. Everyone thought that he was leaving for good," as per the source who had divulged this information to Mihaaru News.

There are rumours that an expatriate coach may be brought to coach the national team. Some experts have also said that the national team needs a coach of "good quality".

Expatriate coaches of good quality have worked in Maldives before. However, the expatriate coaches who have been in charge of the national team as of late have been of "average quality". Some people prefer having a Maldivian coach for the national team instead of an expatriate coach.

"The expatriate coaches that have been brought to coach the national team have not been that good as of late. And so, a Maldivian coach can still do this job," said the expert.

"This is not how an expatriate coach that can transform the national team should be brought in."

The next match that the national team will play is in March 2026. There is enough time to conduct research in finding an expatriate coach of sufficient quality. Regardless, there are two ways FAM can go about this.

One of them is to give Shiyaz another short-term contract. The other is to hand over the national team to an expatriate coach for a longer period of time. FAM General Secretary Ahmed Zareer has said that they have not reached a decision as of yet.

"We have not reached a decision as of yet," said Zareer when he was questioned as to what FAM has been thinking in regards to whether the team should be handed over to an expatriate coach or whether Shiyaz's contract should be renewed.