U-17 Women’s National Team Records Historic 8-2 Win Over Sudan at CECAFA Championship, Marking a New Chapter for Women’s Football in Somalia.
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania – Somalia’s U-17 Women’s National Team has created a historic moment for the country after securing its first-ever international victory in women’s football, defeating Sudan 8-2 in a thrilling encounter at the 2026 CECAFA U-17 Women’s Championship in Tanzania.
The remarkable achievement was recorded at KMC Stadium in Dar es Salaam, where the young Somali players delivered a memorable performance to end their debut regional campaign on a high note and inspire a new generation of footballers back home.
Despite facing difficult challenges in their opening matches against tournament hosts Tanzania and regional rivals Kenya, the Somali team showed resilience and determination to produce one of the most significant results in the history of women’s football in the country.
Forward Najma Mohamed emerged as the hero of the match, scoring a brilliant hat-trick to lead Somalia’s attacking display. Sundus Mohamed added two goals, while Hibo Salad, Halimo Isse and Maryan Osoble each contributed to the historic scoreline.
Sudan managed to find the net twice through Nashwa Abbas and Fatin Fadol, but Somalia maintained control of the match to secure a landmark victory.
Speaking after the match, Player of the Match Najma Mohamed expressed her happiness after helping her country achieve a historic milestone.
“I am very happy that I scored three goals today. This will motivate me to keep working hard,” she said.
Head coach Maha Mohamed Hagi praised his players for their commitment and described the victory as an important foundation for the future growth of women’s football in Somalia.
“We came to this championship to gain experience and learn. I am happy that we have also managed to register our first international win. This is only the beginning, and we will continue improving as we participate in more competitions,” Hagi said.
The historic win came after a challenging start to the tournament, with Somalia suffering defeats against Tanzania and Kenya in their opening fixtures. The team lost 4-0 to Tanzania before falling 6-0 against Kenya’s Harambee Junior Starlets.
However, the young Somali side responded with determination, showing the fighting spirit that culminated in their record-breaking victory over Sudan.
The result represents more than just a football score it marks a significant step forward for women’s football development in Somalia, demonstrating the growing potential of young female athletes and the importance of continued investment in sports programmes.
The 2026 CECAFA U-17 Women’s Championship brought together eight teams from East and Central Africa, with Somalia and Sudan participating as debutants.
Although Somalia’s campaign ended at the group stage, their historic victory over Sudan will remain a defining moment one that could inspire future generations of Somali girls to pursue football and compete on the international stage.
