Sri Lanka coach wants anyone but India to win SAFF Championship 2026

India beat Pakistan 3-2 and Maldives 1-0 to top Group B and book its place in the semifinals and will take on Bhutan on Saturday | Photo Credit: TECNO SAFF Championship/Facebook

Sri Lanka men’s football head coach Abdullah Al Mutairi said that he wants anyone but India to win the ongoing SAFF Championship 2026.

The Kuwaiti coach said these comments following his side’s 0-4 loss against host Bangladesh on Wednesday, which resulted in its elimination from the tournament.

India entered the tournament as defending champion and is fielding a second-string squad led by Under-23 coach Naushad Moosa as it searches for a record-extending 10th title.

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“I am tired that India (is) always the champion,” Mutairi is seen saying in a video released by Channel 24. “I hope that Bangladesh, Bhutan or Pakistan wins. Nine times is too much,” he added.

India beat Pakistan 3-2 and Maldives 1-0 to top Group B and book its place in the semifinals, and will take on Bhutan on Saturday. Meanwhile, Bangladesh will take on Pakistan in the second semifinal later in the day.