Sri Lanka national football head coach Abdullah Al Mutairi has officially concluded his tenure with the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL), bringing an end to a period widely viewed as one of progress and renewed belief for the national team.

The Kuwaiti coach confirmed the development via a Facebook post, stating that his contract with FFSL ended by mutual agreement. Reflecting on his journey, Al Mutairi expressed appreciation to everyone who contributed to Sri Lankan football during his time in charge.

“I would like to share that my contract with Football Sri Lanka has come to an end by mutual agreement between all parties,” Al Mutairi wrote. “I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to everyone I had the honor of working with during this journey.”

Al Mutairi thanked Sri Lankan football fans for their unwavering support and praised the players for their commitment, discipline, and fighting spirit. He also acknowledged the efforts of the coaching staff and support personnel who worked behind the scenes to drive the team forward.

Special appreciation was reserved for FFSL President Jaswar Umar, whose trust and full backing, according to Al Mutairi, played a crucial role in the national team’s achievements. The coach noted that strong leadership from the federation allowed the team to grow both technically and mentally on the international stage.

During his tenure, Sri Lanka showed clear improvement in performance and competitiveness, recording notable victories against higher-ranked opponents and earning increased respect within the region. Enhanced tactical discipline, improved fitness levels, and stronger team unity were widely regarded as key areas of progress under his leadership.

One of the standout moments of Al Mutairi’s time in charge was Sri Lanka’s historic qualification to the second round of the AFC World Cup qualifiers, a major milestone for the nation and a significant step forward in its footballing journey.

As he departs, Al Mutairi expressed gratitude for the experiences and memories gained and wished Sri Lankan football continued success. While his chapter as head coach has come to a close, the foundations laid during his tenure are expected to leave a lasting impact on the national team’s future development.

Sri Lanka’s AFC U-17 Asian Cup Qualifiers campaign came to an unexpected conclusion with a 2–1 defeat to Timor-Leste in their final Group A match in Chongqing. With both teams entering the fixture on three points, the match served as a direct battle for a fourth-place finish in the group. Despite pre-match expectations and form analysis suggesting Sri Lanka held the advantage, Timor-Leste delivered the stronger performance on the day.

Timor-Leste took control early and displayed greater urgency, breaking the deadlock in the 26th minute through Elton Da Conceicao, who capitalised on defensive hesitation to put his side ahead. Sri Lanka struggled to settle into rhythm, often losing second balls and failing to connect effectively in midfield.

The second half saw Timor-Leste continue to dictate play, maintaining higher intensity and pressing Sri Lanka into mistakes. Their persistence was rewarded in the 63rd minute when Jyzeus Gabriel Lay doubled the lead with a composed finish following a break in transition.

Sri Lanka managed to pull one goal back deep into stoppage time, as Ishaq found the net with a well-taken effort, but it was too late to alter the outcome. The result places Sri Lanka fifth in Group A, behind China PR, Bangladesh, Bahrain, and now Timor-Leste.

This outcome contradicts earlier projections that favoured Sri Lanka based on Timor-Leste’s previous results and goal difference. However, football at youth level often hinges on momentum, confidence, and adaptability—areas where Timor-Leste outperformed Sri Lanka on the day.

Sri Lanka conclude their campaign with one win and four losses, scoring six goals and conceding 17. While the tournament exposed defensive vulnerabilities and structural weaknesses, it also offered valuable international experience for a young squad still developing physically and tactically.

The focus now shifts to refining youth systems, improving defensive organisation, and strengthening player development pathways. The qualifiers may not have produced the results Sri Lanka had hoped for, but they provided clarity on the areas that require attention as the nation continues to rebuild at youth level.

Sri Lanka’s AFC U-17 Asian Cup Qualifiers campaign took another difficult turn on Matchday 4 as they fell 8–0 to a dominant China PR side in Chongqing. China, who entered the fixture with 30 goals scored and none conceded, continued their perfect run with a commanding and clinical performance.

The defeat also slightly exceeded the earlier projected scoreline, as forecasts suggested a heavy loss in the range of 6–0 based on China’s form and Sri Lanka’s defensive struggles. China ultimately pushed beyond that margin with relentless second-half pressure and superior physicality.

China took control early when Zhao Songyuan opened the scoring in the 13th minute. Zhang Xuyao doubled the lead before the half-hour mark, and Kuang Zhaolei’s 41st-minute strike effectively settled the outcome before halftime.

The second half offered little relief for Sri Lanka. China maintained full command of possession and territory, adding five more goals through He Sifan (47’), Shuai Weihao (55’), Wan Xiang (75’, 77’) and Zhang Bolin (84’). The hosts’ sustained pressure, intelligent movement between the lines, and ruthless finishing highlighted the gap between the two nations at this age level.

With the win, China remain unbeaten with four straight victories, keeping pace with Bangladesh at the top of Group A. Owing to a significantly superior goal difference, China will only need a draw against Bangladesh on Sunday to finish as group leaders.

For Sri Lanka, the result reinforces the defensive and structural challenges identified throughout the campaign — particularly in dealing with high-pressing teams and managing space between defensive lines. The team now turns its attention to their final group match against Timor-Leste, a fixture they are expected to approach with confidence and a realistic chance of securing a second victory.

Sri Lanka have one match remaining in the qualifiers and will aim to finish on a stronger note as they continue their learning curve at continental level.

If you need an updated standings table, match preview for Sri Lanka vs Timor-Leste, or social media posts for this result, I can prepare those next.

Updated Group A Standings (After Matchday 4)

Sri Lanka vs Timor-Leste – Match Preview

Sri Lanka enter their final AFC U-17 Asian Cup Qualifiers Group A match against Timor-Leste with a crucial opportunity to end the campaign on a positive note. Both teams have faced heavy defeats throughout the group stage, with Timor-Leste failing to score a single goal and conceding 30.

Sri Lanka showed strong attacking quality in their 4–0 win over Brunei and were competitive in stretches against Bahrain before losing 2–1. Despite the 8–0 loss to China PR, the team retains the advantage in pace, transitional play, and individual technical ability over Timor-Leste.

Timor-Leste have struggled to maintain defensive shape and have been vulnerable in both wide areas and in transition. Their inability to build out from pressure offers Sri Lanka a clear opportunity to dominate possession and control attacking phases.

This match represents Sri Lanka’s best chance to secure a second win and finish the group in fourth place.

Match Prediction – Sri Lanka vs Timor-Leste

The previous prediction for this match was 3–1 in favour of Sri Lanka.
Based on both teams’ updated performances and form trends, this prediction remains accurate.

Predicted result: Sri Lanka 3–1 Timor-Leste

Sri Lanka are expected to:
• Control the midfield
• Create more chances from wide areas
• Use pace effectively in transition
• Limit Timor-Leste’s attacking threat