Somalia’s U-17 women make history with record win in first international tournament

While attention has focused on Somali referee Omar Artan and reports that he was unable to travel to the United States to officiate at a FIFA tournament — a missed opportunity that would have marked a first World Cup finals involvement for Somalia — the country’s women’s Under-17 team has quietly made history of its own.

Competing at the CECAFA Women’s U-17 Championship in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Somalia fielded its first-ever women’s team in an international football competition.

Although the side exited at the group stage, their final match delivered a series of milestones that marked a significant moment for football development in the country.

Somalia recorded the biggest victory in the nation’s football history with an 8–2 win over Sudan and celebrated the first international hat-trick scored by a Somali player in a debut tournament appearance.

Sundus Mohamed scored twice, including Somalia’s first-ever goal in women’s international tournament football, while Najmo Mohamed claimed a hat-trick. Captain Halimo Isse, Maryan Osoble and Hibo Salad also found the net.

Shortly after the match, Somali Football Federation president Ali Abdi Mohamed called the squad to congratulate the players and coaching staff.

“You did well and I was sure you can,” he told the team, while praising captain Halimo Isse for her leadership throughout the tournament.

Reflecting on the wider significance of the team’s debut, Mohamed described the performance as an encouraging sign for the future of women’s football in Somalia.

“Somalia is a developing nation recovering from decades of civil war and we are very new to the women’s football environment, but we are improving,” he said.

“If our first international appearance was such a positive experience, I am sure we are developing and we will do much better in the months and years to come.”

Mohamed also acknowledged support from international football bodies.

“I would like to thank FIFA and CAF for their constant financial assistance, education and guidance. Without them we could not have achieved such progress,” he said.

He added that the federation plans to continue investing in the women’s game.

“We have spent significant time, money and energy on women’s football and I am fully committed to increasing our investment. Our women and girls are doing an excellent job and I am very proud of them.”

Somalia’s participation in the tournament has extended beyond the playing squad. Two Somali female match officials — referee Fadumo Mohamed Nor and assistant referee Iqara Ali Ahmed — remain in Tanzania after continuing to receive appointments during the competition.