Somalia’s women’s Under-17 team exited the CECAFA Women’s U-17 Championship at the group stage, but not quietly.
The young Somali side closed its debut international tournament with an 8-2 win over Sudan in Dar es Salaam, delivering the country’s first international victory in women’s football and one of the most important scorelines yet for the emerging program.
Najmo Mohamed led the surge with a hat-trick and took player-of-the-match honors.
Sundus Mohamed scored twice.
Captain Halimo Isse, Maryan Osoble and Hibo Salad also found the net as Somalia finished the tournament with a statement performance.
The result changed the mood around the squad after earlier defeats to Tanzania and Kenya.
Instead of leaving the tournament with only lessons, Somalia left with a win, goals, records and a result that gives the team a platform to build on.
Somali Football Federation president Ali Abdi Mohamed called the players shortly after the match and praised the team’s response.
“You did well and I was sure you can,” he told the squad.
He said the team had shown what Somali girls can achieve on the regional stage and said the federation would continue investing in women’s football.
Ali Abdi Mohamed also thanked FIFA and CAF for their support, guidance and assistance as Somalia works to grow the women’s game.
Somalia came into the tournament as a debutant, and the team’s final match showed clear progress.
The campaign ended in the group stage, but the closing result gave Somali women’s football a historic first win, a hat-trick milestone and fresh belief for the next tournament.
The federation also highlighted the work of Somali match officials during the championship, saying referee Fadumo Mohamed Nor and assistant referee Iqra Ali Ahmed received appointments during the competition.
