VANCOUVER — The president of Somalia’s football federation, Ali Abdi Mohamed, took part in a high-level strategy meeting with African football leaders this week on the sidelines of the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver, Canada, as the country continues to expand its presence in continental and global football governance.
Mohamed, who also serves as a vice president of the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA), was among 54 federation presidents attending the session convened by Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe and FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The gathering focused on advancing football infrastructure, strengthening governance frameworks, and expanding development opportunities across African football associations, according to local reports.
The meeting also provided a platform for African football administrators to engage directly with global governing bodies on key priorities for the sport, including investment in youth development, refereeing standards, and administrative capacity-building.
Somalia’s participation in the high-level talks signals the country’s growing influence in continental and international football policymaking, as the Somali Football Federation (SFF) continues to strengthen its standing within CAF and FIFA structures. The Vancouver strategy session precedes the 76th FIFA Congress, where representatives from 211 member associations are expected to deliberate on the future trajectory of the global game.
CAF Backs Infantino Re-election
On the eve of the Congress, CAF held its own meeting where member associations unanimously agreed to support Gianni Infantino’s re-election as FIFA president for the 2027–2031 term. The decision came shortly after the FIFA Council announced a 15 percent increase in financial distributions to all 48 participating member associations at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, bringing the total pool to $871 million.
CAF and UEFA also signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Vancouver aimed at strengthening collaboration on youth and women’s football, coach and referee education, and governance development across both continents. The agreement runs until 2031 and reflects a shared commitment to using football as a tool for social cohesion and inclusion, according to a joint statement.
Somalia’s Rising Football Profile
The Vancouver engagement marks the latest step in Somalia’s steady ascent in regional and international football circles. In February, Mohamed was officially elected as CECAFA vice president during the regional body’s general assembly in Djibouti, a four-year term that reflects growing confidence in his leadership and the SFF’s active role in promoting football development across East and Central Africa.
The SFF has recently overseen a series of milestones. In October, FIFA granted the federation $4.5 million under the FIFA Forward Development Programme, one of the largest direct investments in Somali football in years, intended for infrastructure rebuilding, national team support, and grassroots expansion. In April, the national team — the Ocean Stars — secured a historic AFCON 2027 qualifier victory over Mauritius, advancing to the next stage of qualification for the first time after a dramatic penalty shootout.
Efforts to strengthen club management and diplomatic support for Somali footballers abroad have also intensified, with Mohamed meeting Somalia’s ambassador to Kenya in August to address logistical challenges facing national clubs in international competitions. Rebuilding of sports facilities in regions such as Galmudug has continued as part of broader stabilization initiatives.
The 76th FIFA Congress, taking place at the Vancouver Convention Centre on April 30, has drawn 1,600 delegates from 211 member associations. Key agenda items include the suspension or expulsion of member associations, future World Cup hosting decisions, and resolutions addressing governance and financial transparency.
