Mogadishu, Somalia – The Minister of Youth and Sports, Mohamed Barre Mohamud, bid farewell to the country’s senior women’s national football team and the U-17 squad on Tuesday as they departed for Djibouti to play a series of friendly matches.
The atmosphere at Aden Adde International Airport was filled with emotion and pride as the players, dressed in blue and white, waved Somali flags and embraced their families before boarding their flight.
The minister praised the athletes for their courage and commitment, calling their journey a symbol of national unity and progress.
“These young women are not only representing Somalia on the football field but also breaking barriers for an entire generation,” he said, pledging continued government support for sports as a force for social change and empowerment.
The Somali Football Federation (SFF) has been investing heavily in women’s football, viewing it as more than just a game. In a country where cultural and social norms have long restricted women’s participation in sports, the federation has turned the pitch into a space of transformation. Through football, they aim to foster inclusion, confidence, and community among Somali girls and women.
To achieve this, the SFF launched a nationwide awareness campaign, holding workshops and dialogues with parents and community leaders. According to FIFA, the initiative has already shifted perceptions across several regions, encouraging more families to support their daughters’ athletic ambitions.
The friendly match in Djibouti is not just a sporting event but a milestone in Somalia’s ongoing effort to restore its place in international sports. For many of the young players, it’s their first time leaving the country, representing a new chapter for Somali women’s football and for the nation’s broader journey toward equality and hope.