The President of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA), Paulos Weldehaimanot Andemariam has graced the Somali Football Federation (SFF) Annual General Assembly.

Andemariam commended SFF for the positive strides made during the Assembly held in Mogadishu on Thursday.

The Annual General Assembly brought Federation executives, regional representatives, club delegates, and key stakeholders to review the past season and set new priorities.

The assembly carried significant regional weight with the attendance of CECAFA President Paulos Weldehaimanot, who delivered a strong message of support for Somalia’s recent progress.

In his remarks, the CECAFA President praised Somalia’s historic breakthrough in Women’s football, noting that the region had long awaited the moment when Somali girls would finally compete in the CECAFA U-17 Women’s Championship. He highlighted the team’s memorable victory over Sudan, describing it as “a door of hope opened for Somali youth.”

He also celebrated Somalia’s rising profile on the global stage through elite referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was recently honoured as Africa’s Best Referee.

He concluded by affirming that the relationship between CECAFA and the SFF is now “stronger than ever,” and pledged continued regional support for Somalia’s football ambitions.

SFF President Ali Abdi Mohamed expressed pride in the Federation’s achievements over the past year. He noted that Somalia successfully implemented several key projects, including for the first time participation in the CECAFA Women’s Football Tournament, a milestone that marked a new chapter for the women’s game in the country.

Delegates discussed youth development, national team performance, infrastructure needs, and the expansion of women’s football.