Coach Sobah Mohamed (Soba) has said he is proud of the Maldives women’s team for their performance in the ongoing SAFF Women's Championship in Goa, India.

The Maldives lost 4-2 to defending champions Bangladesh at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Thursday night. Earlier in the tournament, the team also suffered an 11-0 defeat against India.

Soba said the Maldives was placed in a very difficult group alongside two of the region’s strongest teams. Before the tournament, he had stated that reducing the margin of defeat would be a key target, especially as he had only taken charge of the team a few days earlier.

In a Facebook post after the Bangladesh match, Soba praised the players for their courage and determination against a well-prepared opponent. He noted that Bangladesh is one of the strongest women’s football teams in the region.

Soba also said the Maldives is not yet ready to compete at the regional level in women’s football. He explained that the success of teams like Bangladesh and India is the result of years of planning, investment, and development.

He added that improving women’s football in the Maldives will require patience, support, proper planning, and long-term commitment.