Head-to-head

The SAFF (South Asian Football Federation) Championship final will mark the ninth clash between Bangladesh and Maldives since the inception of the first South Asian Federation (SAF) Games way back in 1984 in Nepal.

Of the eight previous head-to-head, Bangladesh won thrice and lost once. Rest of the four matches ended in draw.

Bangladesh was a dominating force in this region during the eighties. They outplayed (5-0) the tiny islanders in their maiden encounter. The second match was a nightmare for Maldives as they conceded eight goals in Dhaka in the second SAF games in 1985.

The Maldives football started to experience a remarkable improvement in standard ever since they held Bangladesh to a draw in the sixth SAF Games in Dhaka in 1993. They went on to draw their next two meetings in 1995 (seventh SAF Games) and in 1997 (first SAFF Championship in Nepal).

In 1999, Maldives stunned all by defeating Bangladesh 2-1 in the eighth SAF Games, also held in Nepal.

Their next meeting in Male yielded 1-1 draw in the Maldives Golden Jubilee tournament in 2000.

Maldives, who are now ranked ahead of Bangladesh, tasted a solitary goal defeat only last week in their Group B clash.