The Maldives host Afghanistan at the National Stadium in Malé on Monday in an international friendly between two sides struggling for consistency.

Both teams arrive with limited attacking form, making a cautious contest likely.

Key stats

• Maldives have won only one of their last five matches.
• Afghanistan are winless in 2026.
• Afghanistan won the last two meetings between the teams.
• Neither side has shown consistent attacking quality recently.

Maldives seeking momentum

The hosts secured a valuable 2-1 victory over Timor-Leste in their most recent outing, ending a difficult run of results.

Attacking limitations

Despite the win, the Maldives continue to struggle against organised defences and often lack creativity in the final third.

Afghanistan looking for stability

Afghanistan started the year with a draw against Pakistan before suffering a heavy 5-1 defeat to Syria in Asian Cup qualifying.

Defensive concerns

The loss highlighted major defensive issues, and a more conservative approach is expected in this friendly.

Prediction

Neither side appears likely to take major risks, and recent performances suggest chances could be limited.

A tight and cautious game looks the most probable outcome.

Prediction

Under 2.5 Goals