Somali Under-17 boys wrote another chapter of history after beating rivals Kenya two goals to nil on Wednesday to book their place in the semi-finals at the TotalEnergies AFCON U-17 2027 CECAFA Zonal Qualifiers.
The crucial victory, played at Kigali’s Pele Stadium in Rwanda, was enough to send the Ocean Stars Juniors into the last four, where they will encounter hosts Rwanda on Saturday.
First Breakthrough
It was a tense, physical East African derby, but Somalia showed maturity by controlling the game tactically and taking their chances at key moments. The breakthrough came in the 41st minute when striker Mohamud Mohamed Osman gave Somalia the lead with a well-taken goal, ending the first half 1-0 in favour of the Somalis.
After the break, Kenya pushed for an equalizer, but Somalia’s defense, marshaled by captain Mohamud Osman, remained organized and disciplined. Goalkeeper Khalid Nor, made two important saves in the second half to keep Somalia ahead.
Kenya’s hopes were finally ended in the 86th minute when Abdullahi Bashir Hashi turned a free-kick into a goal, sending the Somali bench into celebrations. The second goal sealed a deserved 2-0 victory and eliminated Kenya from the competition.
TotalEnergies AFCON U-17 2027
With the win, Somalia now face a decisive semi-final against Rwanda on Saturday. Under the qualification format and if they happen to reach the final, that will automatically secure them a place in the final tournament of the TotalEnergies AFCON U-17 2027.
That means Saturday’s clash is not just a semi-final – it is effectively a final for Somalia’s dream of returning to the continental stage. The Somali U-17 team famously won the CECAFA title in 2022 and qualified for AFCON, and now a new generation is on the verge of repeating that achievement.
Somalia’s head of the delegation, Bashir Salad Barre, said that the squad has shown strong character and tactical discipline throughout the qualifiers in Kigali.
SFF President Phone Call
Speaking by phone to the team immediately after the final whistle, Somali Football Federation President, Ali Abdi Mohamed, congratulated the players and technical staff for their professional performance and for representing the country with honor.
“You have made the nation proud today. You played with heart, discipline and pride for the flag. This is what Somali football is about,” President Ali told the players. The SFF President confirmed that he and the Director of National Teams, Alisaid Mohamed Hassan, will travel to Kigali on Friday to be with the team and provide direct support ahead of the crucial semi-final against Rwanda on Saturday.
For the young Somali players, many of whom come from domestic youth academies in Mogadishu and regional states, the victory over Kenya is already a moment to cherish, but they know the bigger job is still ahead.
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