India Coach Warns Maldives 'Cannot Be Taken Lightly' Despite 3-0 Loss to Pakistan

India's head coach Naushad Musa has said the Maldives cannot be taken lightly despite their 3-0 defeat to Pakistan at the SAFF Championship 2026, describing the Maldivian side as technically strong. In an interview with an Indian newspaper, Naushad said that although the Maldives conceded three goals early in the first half of that match and lost, what followed was a very fast, quick team that controlled the ball well. He noted the Maldives' good level of play, especially in attack build-up and with good passes. India beat Pakistan 3-2 in their first match of the tournament, meaning even a single point from today's match will secure first place in the group. Even a defeat by a margin of less than three goals would be enough to send India into the semi-final. The Maldives, by contrast, can only secure a semi-final place by beating India by a difference of at least three goals. The Maldives and India are the two biggest rivals of the SAFF tournament. The Maldives last won the SAFF Championship in 2018, also at the same ground where the tournament is currently being held, by beating India in the final. In the last meeting between the two teams in March, India won 3-0. The India-Maldives match at the SAFF Championship is scheduled to start at 14:30 Maldives time today.