Ibrahim Ifrah Areef (Ifra), the ex-goalkeeper for the Maldives national team who played in the landmark 2008 SAFF Championship-winning team, died in the dusk hours of September 25th at the age of 36.

Ifrah experienced a stroke on Monday and was taken to ADK Hospital in critical condition. He was diagnosed with a bleeding stroke, which resulted in a brain bleed. Surgery took place on Monday night to address the bleeding; however, since the blood could not be entirely removed, he was put into a medically induced coma to lessen brain swelling.

Considered one of the finest goalkeepers in the Maldives during his era, Ifra started his journey at Club Valencia and gained recognition at Maziya, emerging as the nation's most talented young goalkeeper. He led the Maldives U-19 national team and represented the nation in the U-23 squad during the Asian Games, South Asian Games, and Olympic qualifiers, where his exceptional performances are still remembered.

Ifra initially became a member of the senior national team in 2007 and stayed with the squad for many years. The pinnacle of his career was being part of the 2008 SAFF Championship team, where he acted as a backup goalkeeper to seasoned players Imran Mohamed and Hassan Rameez (Timotee).

Throughout the years, Ifra has represented several of the leading clubs in the Maldives, including New Radiant, Victory SC, BG Sports, and TC Sports, making significant contributions that contributed to many of their most unforgettable moments.