The much-anticipated Raa Zone of the Tekkers Dhiraagu Resort Cup 2025 officially kicked off at Cora Cora Maldives, marking the beginning of an exciting new leg in the national tournament. In front of an energetic home crowd and a vibrant opening ceremony, Joali Maldives edged out the hosts Cora Cora Maldives in a thrilling 4–3 win.

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This year’s Raa Zone features three competitive teams: Cora Cora Maldives, Joali Maldives, and Ifuru Island Maldives, all vying for the title of Raa Atoll Champion and a place in the Zone Semi-Final, where the winner will face the Baa Atoll Champion.

Held at Freedom Arena at Cora Cora Maldives, the opening ceremony set a festive and respectful tone for the tournament. The event began with the recitation of the Holy Quran, followed by a warm welcome from the evening's MC. Followed by a colorful performance by Cora Cora’s MOKSHA Spa team and F&B team that delighted the crowd.

Expressing his gratitude to the sponsors and the host property, Tekkers Managing Director Mohamed Nashmee said: “I’d like to thank Cora Cora for so generously hosting us here on this beautiful island and we are grateful for your warm hospitality and continuous support — and to all the teams participating; your passion and commitment are what gives life to this tournament and we look forward to seeing the best of the talent on the field.”

Cora Cora Resort Manager Muizz Mohamed also addressed the crowd, sharing his appreciation for the hard work of the resort staff and the opportunity to host such a major event: “This is our first time hosting this tournament, and I want to sincerely thank Tekkers for organizing this event and giving us the opportunity. I’m also grateful to the entire Cora Cora family—without their hard work, none of this would have been possible.”

Both teams entered the pitch to the FIFA anthem, followed by the Maldivian national anthem. The chief guest greeted the players and referees, before the official match ball was handed over and signed, marking the formal kickoff of the Raa Zone.

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Match Recap – Joali Maldives vs Cora Cora Maldives

The opening match was nothing short of dramatic. Cora Cora Maldives opened the scoring in the first half, but Joali Maldives quickly responded with an equalizer and took the lead 2–1. A third goal before halftime gave Joali control of the game.

Cora Cora fought back in the second half, narrowing the gap to 2–3, but Joali struck again, extending their lead to 4–2. A late goal by Cora Cora brought the game to 3–4, but Joali held on until the final whistle to take home the win.

Muslim Mohamed (#96, Joali Maldives) was awarded Man of the Match, presented by the Managing Director of Cora Cora Maldives. In a post-match interview, he said: “Alhamdulillah, we’re overjoyed to have won the first match of the Raa Zone. Our aim is clear — to give our best again tomorrow and make it all the way to the final.”

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The Raa Zone action continues tomorrow, 1st August, with Joali Maldives facing Ifuru Island Maldives in the second group match. All eyes will be on whether Joali can continue their winning form or Ifuru will shake up the standings.