Controlling the ball, but for how long? Key takeways from India’s SAFF Championship win over Maldives

Despite logistical drawbacks, Naushad Moosa has managed to churn out the desired results whilst shining a light on the talent available, especially with senior head coach Khalid Jamil on the lookout for a new generation of Indian footballers.

Updated : Nov 11, 2026 21:05 IST , Chennai - 4 MINS READ

India qualified for the final of the SAFF Championship 2026 with a 1-0 win over Maldives. | Photo Credit: SAFF

The Indian men’s football team is currently stationed in Auckland, waiting to kick off the first of its two friendlies against New Zealand.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, thousands of kilometres away in Dhaka, a second-string side wore the national colours and is closer to adding another milestone to the nation’s SAFF Championship history.

Led by India Under-23 coach Naushad Moosa, the Blue Tigers edged Maldives 1-0 to book their spot in the semifinal and keep the dream of winning a record-extending 10th title alive.

Control is key

Unlike Jamil’s 4-4-2 team, which uses long balls to find wide players, Moosa opts for a standard 4-3–3 shape and expects his players to keep the ball on the floor.

India held over 55 per cent possession against both Pakistan and the Maldives, spending several sequences doing the same thing: passing from one end to another before attempting to pierce through the middle. The idea has been fruitful so far, with Suhail Bhat and Manglenthang Kipgen’s goals against Pakistan a testament to it.

Naushad Moosa has taken charge of India at the SAFF Championship in Khalid Jamil’s stead. | Photo Credit: AIFF

His high defensive line aids this tactic, as any time the ball is lost, players are stationed close enough to try to win it back immediately.

However, while Moosa’s style of football has been effective on the pitch, the physical toll of always being on their toes has been evident in the players. Both against Pakistan and the Maldives, India’s intensity dropped towards the fag end of the match, with Moosa having limited options on the bench.

Pakistan bagged two goals in added time while Maldives had the same number of big chances to equalise, but were denied by some adept goalkeeping from 20-year-old Priyansh Dubey.

Logistical challenges

The main cause for India’s dip throughout a match, perhaps, is the changes in the roster. The tournament’s clash with the ISL and the New Zealand friendlies left the coach with just 17 players out of the 28 picked for the opener against Pakistan.

Following that 3-2 win, three players (Bijoy Varghese, Muhammad Suhail and Liston Colaco) joined the senior squad, three (Farukh Choudhary, Noufal PN and Hmingthanmawia Ralte) went back to their clubs, while Ronney Willson Kharbudon and Suresh Singh Wangjam did not travel to Dhaka due to injuries.

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Only four players who started against Pakistan were named in the lineup against Maldives, leaving Moosa to reform the side in six days. And the rule that no changes can be made to the contingent after competition has left Moosa with just 20 players to work with.

A six-day gap between the first two games has helped to some extent, but now a semifinal and a possible final are coming up in the next six days. And with Moosa seeming to have been handed the short straw, he will have to dig deep and find that extra spark if India is to defend its title.

Does Suhail Bhat need more game time in the ISL?

Suhail Bhat has had a dream start to the tournament, netting three goals in two games, including the winner against Maldives. The goals come as a perfect statement of intent for the 21-year-old who has been occasionally popping up in the headlines over the past few seasons, with his limited performances for Mohun Bagan Super Giant.

Suhail Bhat has three goals for India at the SAFF Championship 2026. | Photo Credit: SAFF

His hard-working mentality and awareness of situations in front of goal have made him a useful asset for Moosa, while he remains a work in progress at his club. Having been with the Mohun Bagan since 2023, Suhail has been overlooked for vastly experienced and foreign strikers and has made just 19 appearances across four seasons in the Indian Super League, with just one start.

Moreover, Moosa has not been able to get more than 65 minutes out of the youngster, who seems to lack match fitness, playing just five minutes out of Mohun Bagan’s five games this season.

This begs the question: does the 21-year-old need to push for a move away and establish his credentials, especially as Indian football continues its endless search for a prized forward like Sunil Chhetri? And with Jamil picking forwards David Lalhlansanga and Muhammad Suhail for the New Zealand tour after a good start in the ISL, Suhail will have to ensure that he gets a fair chance as well.