Sri Lanka national football team explained

Sri Lanka
Badge:Sri Lanka national football teams.png
Badge Size:155px
Nickname:Golden Army
රන් හමුදාව
தங்கப் படை
Association:Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL)
Sub-Confederation:SAFF (South Asia)
Confederation:AFC (Asia)
Coach:Abdullah Al Mutairi (interim)
Asst Manager:Keith Stevens
Captain:Sujan Perera
Most Caps:Channa Ediri Bandanage (64)
Top Scorer:Kasun Jayasuriya (27)[1]
Home Stadium:Sugathadasa Stadium
Colombo Racecourse
Fifa Trigramme:SRI
Fifa Max:122
Fifa Max Date:August 1998
Fifa Min:207
Fifa Min Date:October 2022
Elo Max:105
Elo Max Date:23 March 1952
Elo Min:225
Elo Min Date:September 2019
Pattern La1:_SLA21h
Pattern B1:_SLA2125h
Pattern Ra1:_21h
Pattern Sh1:_SLA21h
Leftarm1:F0D264
Body1:F0D264
Rightarm1:F0D264
Shorts1:1E1E1E
Socks1:F0D264
Pattern La2:_SLA21a
Pattern B2:_SLA2125a
Pattern Ra2:_SLA21a
Pattern Sh2:_SLA21a
Leftarm2:780C00
Body2:780C00
Rightarm2:780C00
Shorts2:E6E6E6
Socks2:780C00
Pattern La3:_SLA21tr
Pattern B3:_SLA2125tr
Pattern Ra3:_SLA21tr
Pattern Sh3:_SLA21tr
Leftarm3:00285A
Body3:00285A
Rightarm3:00285A
Shorts3:00285A
Socks3:00285A
First Game: 0–2
(Colombo, Ceylon; 1 January 1952)
Largest Win: 7–1
(Taipei, Taiwan; 4 April 2008)
6–0
(Dhaka, Bangladesh; 6 December 2009)
Largest Loss: 1–12
(Colombo, Ceylon; 12 January 1964)[2]
Regional Name:SAFF Championship
Regional Cup Apps:13
Regional Cup First:1993
Regional Cup Best:Champions (1995)
2Ndregional Name:AFC Challenge Cup
2Ndregional Cup Apps:3
2Ndregional Cup First:2006
2Ndregional Cup Best:Runners-up (2006)

The Sri Lanka national football team (Sinhala; Sinhalese: ශ්‍රී ලංකා පාපන්දු කණ්ඩායම Shri Lanka Papandu Kandayama, Tamil: இலங்கை தேசிய கால்பந்து அணி Ilaṅkai Tēciya Kālpantu Aṇi) represents Sri Lanka in Association football and is administered by Football Federation of Sri Lanka, the governing body of football in Sri Lanka. They have been a member of FIFA since 1952 and a member of AFC since 1954. Sri Lanka's home stadium is the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo. The Sri Lankan team was known as the Ceylon national football team until 1972 when Ceylon was renamed Sri Lanka.[3]

A member of the AFC, the team has yet to make their first appearance in FIFA World Cup or AFC Asian Cup finals. They have been South Asian champions once, in 1995. As is true elsewhere on the sub-continent, top-level football in Sri Lanka stands somewhat in the shadow of the country's Cricket team. However, the side did reach the second qualification stage for the 2006 World Cup. In the same year, they became the runners-up in the 2006 Challenge Cup.

In 2014, at the 75th anniversary of FFSL, FIFA President Sepp Blatter visited Sri Lanka and opened a new football stadium in Jaffna. During the visit, Blatter said he was not pleased with the development of Football in Sri Lanka and that the authorities haven't taken enough steps to support football on the island. The AFC President Sheikh Salman Bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa also joined the visit.[4]

In the qualification round of the 2018 World Cup, Sri Lanka lost both matches against Bhutan and failed to qualify for the next round. However, Sri Lanka national football team had managed to qualify for the semi-finals of the 2015 SAFF Championship.

History

Early history (1890s–2014)

Football was introduced to Sri Lanka (then called Ceylon) by the British. There is evidence of it being played in Galle Face, a sandy area near the coast, by British servicemen stationed in Colombo in the 1890s. The game was also played at grounds of the barracks at Echelon Barracks and the army grounds (presently the Taj Samudra Hotels).

British servicemen of the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, Royal Engineers, Royal Artillery and the Royal Garrison Command began and promoted competitive football in Ceylon. The British administrative service and the planting community enthusiastically took it to the Central, Southern, and Up-Country regions. By early 1900 competitive football was popular with the local youth.

The game became popular and local football clubs were formed. St. Michael's SC, Havelock's Football Club, Java Lane SC, Wekande SC, Moors FC, and CH & FC, the last being a European monopoly, were some of the first clubs in Columbo. Harlequins FC and Saunders SC soon joined. The trophies of the early tournaments were the De Mel Shield and the Times of Ceylon Cup.

Football also became popular in the country's Southern Provence, where the planting and administrative community promoted the game. British planter T R. Brough in Deniyaya heavily promoted football in the south between 1910 and 1920, and British servicemen from the Navy wireless station in Matara also helped popularise it.[5]

In 1952, Ceylon became a member of FIFA and gained the opportunity to play football at the international level. The country's first international game was played against India in the 1952 Colombo Cup, organized by The Ceylon Football Association.

On 24 October 1953, Tom Ossen, a product of Dharmaraja College, scored the country's first official international goal against Burma at the 1953 Colombo Cup. The game ended in a 2–3 defeat, with T. J. Azeez netting Ceylon's second goal.[6]

Renaissance of Sri Lanka football (2015–2019)

In 2015, Sri Lanka played for the first time in the Bangabandhu Cup. This tournament was organised by Bangladesh Football Federation. The national U-23 teams of Thailand, Bahrain, Malaysia and Singapore participated in this tournament. The national football teams of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka also competed in this tournament.

Sri Lanka was placed in the group with Malaysia and Bangladesh. In the first game Sri Lanka played against the Malaysian team. Malaysia won the match by 2–0. The second match was played against the host Bangladesh. Sri Lanka lost the game 1–0. Sri Lanka failed to score a goal in this tournament. After a six years of poor performance in the international football field Sri Lanka football team managed to qualify for the Semi Final of 2015 SAFF Championship. The poor performance continued in the Solidarity Cup as well. They had another shock defeat this time by the hands of Mongolia the lowest ranked team in Asia. As a result of this defeat Sri Lanka eliminated in the group stage of the tournament.[7]

In July 2018, Sri Lanka welcomed a historical encounter when they faced Lithuania, marked for the first time Sri Lanka will face a European team. The Sri Lankans managed a respectable 0–0 draw to the UEFA side but lost 0–2 in the second encounter.[8] During 2022 World Cup campaign however, Sri Lanka suffered another poor performance as the team fell 0–1 in Zhuhai to Macau. Macau was subsequently disqualified, as the team refused to travel to Sri Lanka in the aftermath of 2019 Sri Lanka Easter bombings,[9] Sri Lanka was awarded a 3–0 win in response, thus qualified to the second round of the World Cup for the first time since 2006 campaign.[10]

Amir Alagic era (2020–2022)

In the second round, Sri Lanka was unlucky to be drawn with four 2019 AFC Asian Cup participants, South Korea, North Korea, Lebanon and Turkmenistan. As predicted, Sri Lanka proved too weak for the group, losing all matches without scoring a single goal as for the end of 2019, and was eliminated from World Cup contention. Sri Lanka had improved since then, and participated in the 2020 Bangabandhu Cup, but the team still finished bottom with two defeats and no goal.

In February 2020, the Football Federation of Sri Lanka announced the appointment of Bosnian-Australian specialist Amir Alagić as head coach of the national team.[11] Sri Lanka then travelled to South Korea to finish their two remaining games against Lebanon and South Korea, losing both, yet optimism rose when Sri Lanka demonstrated an outstanding performance against Lebanon, scoring two goals and only lost by one goal margin, which was also the country's first-ever goals in the qualification. Alagić resigned as coach of Sri Lanka after the qualification, as Sri Lanka, rated as the weakest team in the group, were eliminated without scoring a point. He was replaced by Scottish manager, Andy Morrison.

FIFA suspension and Participation in FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifying (2023)

On 22 January 2023, FIFA announced the suspension of the FFSL from 21 January 2023 until further notice due to the government interference in football, but was provisionally included in the draw, pending a resolution. Therefore, all teams/clubs affiliated with the FFSL are no longer entitled to take part in international competitions.[12] However, after the issue was settled, the ban was lifted allowing Sri Lanka to take part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification under a strict condition: FFSL must conduct a new election ten days before the fixture against Yemen; failure to do so would result in automatic disqualification of the team.[13] The suspension was lifted on 29 August 2023.[14]

Sri Lanka then participated in the first round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification facing against Yemen on 12 October 2023 but lost 4-1 on aggregate in the process.

Team image

Media coverage

There is no official TV broadcaster for the football matches played by the Sri Lanka team because the Football Federation of Sri Lanka has not sold broadcasting rights. The SAFF Championship was broadcast by several channels, and tournaments in the 1990s and 2000s were broadcast free-to-air by Channel Eye. The 2013 SAFF Championship was broadcast by CSN. Star Sports also broadcast the SAFF Championship on pay TV satellite broadcasters.

The official online broadcaster of Sri Lankan football matches is thepapare.com[15] which streams the games of the Sri Lanka Football Premier League, the finals of the Sri Lanka FA Cup, and the AFC U-19 Championship.[16]

Colours

The team uses different kits for home and away games. The kits are currently manufactured by Grand Sport Group.

Home

The traditional home kit of the national team has mostly been maroon shirts and maroon shorts, but blue colours have also been used. The colours are derived from the 15th century flag of Kingdom of Kandy.

Away

The away shirt colour has changed several times between a white shirt with white shorts or a black shirt with black shorts. White shirt with white shorts has been the more frequent choice.

Home stadiums

Sugathadasa Stadium

Sugathadasa Stadium is the former athletic stadium in Sri Lanka. It was established in 1972 and has a capacity of 28,000.[17] The stadium is mostly used for athletics and football. The 1995 and 2008 SAFF Championship tournaments were held in this stadium. This is the home stadium of Sri Lanka National Football Team.Sri Lanka won their first major football tournament in his stadium. It was defeating India in the Final of 1995 SAFF Championship.

All the FIFA World Cup qualification matches of Sri Lankan team also played in this ground. This ground has become a lucky ground for Sri Lanka team because they have won much of the matches played in here. The draw against Philippines Football team and The Tajikistan Team were well known. In recent times Sri Lanka lost to Bhutan in 2018 FIFA World Cup qualify matches against Bhutan in this Stadium. The 2014–15 FA Cup Final also held in this ground.

Major football tournaments that played in here were the AFC President's Cup and AFC Challenge Cup.

Kalutara Stadium

Kalutara Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Kalutara, Sri Lanka. This stadium also known as the Vernon Fernando ground. It is currently used mostly for football matches and hosts the home games of Kalutara Park SC. The stadium holds 15,000 people. This stadium is popularly known as "Kalutara Park Ground". This stadium is located in the heart of Kalutara city. This stadium is mostly use in the Sri Lanka Champions League and Sri Lanka FA Cup tournaments.

Results and fixtures

See main article: Sri Lanka national football team results (2010–present). The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

2024

Coaching staff

PositionName
Head coach Andy Morrison[18] [19]
Assistant coach Keith Stevens[20]
Goalkeeping coach John Turnbull
Technical coach Ryan McCullogh
Performance Analyst Sanka Jayamina
Team Doctor Dr. Matt Ferguson
Media Officers Isuru Maduwantha
Physiotherapist Gimhani Rathnayake
Masseur Niall Cook
Kitman Vinny Kelly

Coaching history

Players

Current squad

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up for the team within the last 12 months and are still available for selection...

Notes

Player records

[25]

Players in bold are still active with Sri Lanka.

Most appearances

RankNameCapsGoalsCareer
1Channa Ediri Bandanage64181999–2009
2Kasun Jayasuriya56271999–2009
34872001–2009
4Weerasinghe Sujan Perera4702011–present
5Dudley Lincoln Steinwall4631993–2009
6Chathura Gunaratne3982006–2013
Kavindu Ishan3912013–present
8Kamaldeen Mohamed Fuard3702000–2006
9Mohamed Izzadeen3492004–2015
10Asmeer Lathif Mohamed3311999–2009

Top goalscorers

RankNameGoalsCapsRatioCareer
1Kasun Jayasuriya27561999–2009
2Channa Ediri Bandanage18641999–2009
3Roshan Perera14311993–2001
4Ahmed Waseem Razeek9172019–present
Mohamed Izzadeen9342004–2015
6Chathura Gunaratne8392006–2013
77482001–2009
8Mohamed Amanulla6101995–2000
9Mohamed Izmath Zain392011
3122008–2011
Galboda Chandradasa Karunaratne3121999–2007
Imthyas Raheem3231995–2004
Well Don Ruwanthilaka3332000–2011
Dudley Lincoln Steinwall3461993–2009

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World CupQualification
YearResultPosition
1930 to 1938Part of Part of
1950Not a FIFA MemberNot a FIFA Member
1954 to 1990Did not enterDid not enter
1994Did not qualify8008026
1998311144
20026114820
20068134711
2010200206
2014201115
2018200213
20228107524
2026201114
2030To be determinedTo be determined
2034
Total41473027103

AFC Asian Cup

AFC Asian CupAFC Asian Cup qualification
width=140pxYearwidth=120pxResultwidth=40pxPositionwidth=30pxPldwidth=30pxWwidth=30pxDwidth=30pxLwidth=30pxGFwidth=30pxGAwidth=30pxPldwidth=30pxWwidth=30pxD*width=30pxLwidth=30pxGFwidth=30pxGA
1956 to 1968WithdrewWithdrew
1972Did not qualify3003110
1976WithdrewWithdrew
1980Did not qualify4103512
19844112611
1988 to 1992Did not enterDid not enter
1996Did not qualify6204525
20004004218
20048206626
2007Did not enterDid not enter
2011Did not qualifyAFC Challenge Cup
2015
2019200213
2023111010530
2027To be determinedTo be determined
Total0/1942713431136

SAFF Championship

width=150pxYearwidth=150pxResultwidth=40pxPositionwidth=40pxPldwidth=40pxWwidth=40pxDwidth=40pxLwidth=40pxGFwidth=40pxGA
1993Runners-up2nd311142
1995Champions1st321053
1997Semi-finals4th420263
1999Group stage5th201123
2003Group stage5th311133
2005Group stage7th300315
2008Semi-finals3rd421153
2009Semi-finals4th420297
2011Group stage6th310246
2013Group Stage7th3102615
2015Semi-finals4th310217
2018Group stage6th201102
2021Group stage5th401325
Total13/131st41137214864

AFC Challenge Cup

AFC Challenge CupAFC Challenge Cup qualification
width=60pxYearwidth=120pxResultwidth=100pxPositionwidth=30pxPldwidth=30pxWwidth=30pxDwidth=30pxLwidth=30pxGFwidth=30pxGAwidth=30pxPldwidth=30pxWwidth=30pxD*width=30pxLwidth=30pxGFwidth=30pxGA
2006Runners-up2nd641272No qualifying round
2008Group stage7th3003193210144
2010Group stage5th310247321094
2012did not qualify301205
2014310255
Total3/5Runners-up125171218125342818

AFC Solidarity Cup

width=150pxYearwidth=150pxResultwidth=40pxPositionwidth=40pxPldwidth=40pxWwidth=40pxDwidth=40pxLwidth=40pxGFwidth=40pxGA
2016Group stage6th301225

Head-to-head record

[26]

width=130pxCountrywidth=20pxMatcheswidth=20pxWinwidth=20pxDrawwidth=20pxLosswidth=20pxGFwidth=20pxGAwidth=20pxGDWin/Draw %
8 1 1 6 6 17 −11 25.00
2 0 0 2 0 4 −4 00.00
20 5 2 13 15 30 −15 25.00
8 6 0 2 20 5 +15 75.00
5 2 0 3 6 4 +2 40.00
3 1 0 2 2 10 −8 33.33
2 0 0 2 2 4 −2 00.00
1 0 0 1 1 12 −11 00.00
1 1 0 0 5 1 +4 100.00
1 0 0 1 0 5 −5 00.00
19 2 5 12 13 32 −19 11.11
6 0 1 5 6 29 −23 33.33
2 0 0 2 0 11 −11 00.00
3 0 0 3 0 16 −16 00.00
1 0 0 1 1 2 −1 00.00
1 0 0 1 1 4 −3 00.00
7 2 2 3 11 10 +1 28.57
5 1 0 4 6 18 −12 25.00
2 0 1 1 0 2 −2 00.00
3 1 1 1 4 2 +2 66.66
10 1 0 9 7 36 −29 10.00
20 2 9 9 16 38 −22 10.00
2 1 0 1 3 2 +1 50.00
7 2 0 5 10 18 −8 28.57
3 0 0 3 0 8 −8 00.00
17 6 7 4 25 19 +6 37.50
3 0 1 2 1 14 −13 00.00
19 8 4 7 31 25 +6 75.00
1 0 0 1 0 2 −2 00.00
4 1 1 2 5 9 −4 50.00
3 0 0 3 0 9 −9 00.00
3 0 0 3 0 9 −9 00.00
5 1 0 4 6 15 −9 20.00
3 0 0 3 0 19 −19 00.00
4 1 1 2 5 8 −3 25.00
1 0 0 1 0 1 −1 00.00
3 0 0 3 0 17 −17 00.00
4 0 1 3 3 11 −8 00.00
7 0 0 7 2 22 −20 00.00
1 1 0 0 3 2 +1 100.00
6 0 1 5 2 12 −10 00.00
8 0 0 8 3 35 −32 00.00
2 0 0 2 0 9 −9 00.00
4 0 3 1 6 7 −1 00.00
2 0 1 1 1 4 −3 00.00

Honours

AFC

SAFF

Invitational

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kasun Nadika Jayasuriya Weerarathne – Goals in International Matches . László Földesi . 7 September 2018 . 5 September 2018 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20180905191627/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/jayasuriya-intlg.html . live .
  2. Web site: Head to head stats Sri Lanka – GDR. WildStat. 4 May 2018. 4 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180504225305/http://wildstat.com/p/7001/ch/all/team1/SRI/team2/GDR. live.
  3. Web site: Sri Lanka's first international win at football. The Sundaytimes Sri Lanka. 23 June 2013. sundaytimes.lk. 6 February 2017. 4 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304061513/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/130623/sports/sri-lankas-first-international-win-at-football-49901.html. live.
  4. Web site: Blatter inaugurates symbolic post-war project in Sri Lanka. https://web.archive.org/web/20150202153942/http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/organisation/president/news/newsid=2487294/index.html. dead. 2 February 2015. FIFA. 2 December 2014. fifa.com. 6 February 2017.
  5. Web site: Sri Lanka Sports News – Online edition of Daily News – Lakehouse Newspapers. dailynews.lk. 6 February 2017. 8 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150208113538/http://archives.dailynews.lk/2011/09/24/spo32.asp. live.
  6. Web site: Asian Quadrangular Tournament (Colombo Cup) 1952–1955: 1953 (Rangoon, Burma). RSSSF. 1999. Neil. Morrison. 27 September 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220927000411/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesb/brindies-quad.html.
  7. Web site: Mongolian penalties down Sri Lanka. AFC. 6 November 2016. thepapare.com. 6 February 2017. 24 April 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170424230007/http://www.thepapare.com/live-mongolia-vs-sri-lanka-afc-solidarity-cup-2016/. live.
  8. Web site: Brave Sri Lanka B fall to Lithuania. 11 July 2018. 2 July 2019. 2 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190702163138/http://www.thepapare.com/match-report-sri-lanka-b-lithuania-football-friendly-11th-july-2018/. live.
  9. Web site: World Cup qualifier in Sri Lanka canceled after Macau refuse to travel SaltWire. 2 July 2019. 2 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190702163142/https://www.thetelegram.com/sports/world-cup-qualifier-in-sri-lanka-canceled-after-macau-refuse-to-travel-320518/. live.
  10. Web site: Sri Lanka welcomes FIFA ruling Macau out of WCup qualifying. USA Today. 2 July 2019. 2 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190702163140/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2019/06/29/sri-lanka-welcomes-fifa-ruling-macau-out-of-wcup-qualifying/39638659/. live.
  11. Web site: Сборная Шри-Ланки по футболу назначила нового главного тренера . 24 February 2020 . 24 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200224174019/https://turkmenportal.com/blog/25433/sbornaya-shrilanki-po-futbolu-naznachila-novogo-glavnogo-trenera . live .
  12. Web site: Suspension of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka. International Association Football Federation. 22 January 2023. .
  13. Web site: Sri Lanka Football ban : New update from FIFA . 26 July 2023 .
  14. Web site: Bureau of the FIFA Council lifts suspension on Football Federation of Sri Lanka. FIFA. 28 August 2023. 20 September 2023.
  15. Web site: ThePapare.com. 6 October 2016. 18 October 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161018043632/http://www.thepapare.com/. live.
  16. Web site: Sri Lanka Football. thepapare.com. 6 February 2017. 9 January 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170109140550/http://www.thepapare.com/football-news/. live.
  17. Web site: Stadions – Champions League – Sri Lanka – Resultaten, programma's, standen en nieuws – Soccerway. soccerway.com. 6 February 2017. 31 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190131000915/https://int.soccerway.com/national/sri-lanka/champions-league/20122013/regular-season/r21175/venues/?ICID=PL_3N_05. live.
  18. Web site: Andrew Morrison and Keith Stevens as foreign coaches arrive in Sri Lanka. 2022.
  19. Web site: FFSL extends Andy Morrison's contract by two years. November 25, 2023.
  20. Web site: Andrew Morrison and Keith Stevens as foreign coaches arrive in Sri Lanka. 2022.
  21. Web site: Naushad. Amit. The football master now only on a liquid diet. 19 November 2017. 30 May 2024. The Sunday Times.
  22. Web site: Andrew Morrison and Keith Stevens as foreign coaches arrive in Sri Lanka. 2022.
  23. Web site: FFSL extends Andy Morrison's contract by two years. November 25, 2023.
  24. Web site: SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT . June 4, 2024 . Football Sri Lanka. Facebook.
  25. Web site: Sri Lanka . National Football Teams.
  26. Web site: Sri Lanka matches, ratings and points exchanged. eloratings.net. 6 February 2017. 16 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170216031247/http://www.eloratings.net/Sri_Lanka.htm. live.
  27. Web site: ANFA Invitational Tournament (Nepal) . RSSSF . 9 July 2014 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20131116142250/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesa/anfa.html . 16 November 2013 .