Somalia to host AFCON 2023 qualifier in Dar es Salaam

The Somali Football Federation (SFF) has announced that they will host Eswatini in a TotalEnegies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) preliminary match in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Yusuf Ahmed, the secretary general of SFF told Cecafaonline.com that since they do not have any Stadium approved to host an International match, they have opted to host the match against Eswatini in Tanzania.

Somalia is expected to host Eswatini between March 20-23, while the return leg is scheduled to take place between March 27-29th.

The newly appointed head coach of the Ocean Stars Hendrik Pieter De Jongh has also named a provisional squad to start preparations on March 1^st in Dar es Salaam.

Eritrea, Djibouti and South Sudan are the other team from the CECAFA region that will battle in the preliminary stage of the AFCON 2023 qualifiers.

The six winners in the preliminary stage of the qualifiers will advance to the group stage to join the 42 teams which enter directly

Squad

Mustaf Yuusuf (Oskarshamn, Sweden), Ayub Ahmed (Minnesota FC U-21, USA), Abdirahman Jama Elman SC (Somalia), Zayed Farah (Australia), Abel Gigle (FC Folgore Caratese, Italy), Saadig Elmi (Grorud IL, Norway), Ahmed Said Ahmed (Myllykosken, Finland), Abdikadir Haji (Colorado Sring, USA), Mohamed Hussein Curka (Onsala BK, Sweden), Omar Hussein (Korsnas FF, Canada), Yonis Farah (Eskilstuna, Sweden), Ahmed Ali (Halesowen Town FC, England), Abdi Mohamed (Columbus Crew, USA), Liban Abdullahi (Thor Akureyri, Iceland)

Others: Omar Jama (IF Gnistan, Finland), Abdisamad Abdullahi (Ergotelis, Greece), Isse Ismail (IFK Haninge, Sweden), Abdiqafar Cise Ismail (SomUnited, Sweden), Anis Nuur (Hendo FC, England), Darman M. (Atletico Ardsia, UAE), Abdulkadir Said Ahmed (Vanta VJS, Finland), Fahad ismail (Jonava FC, England), Hussain Mohamed        (PK 35, Finland), Jama Boss (St. Albans, Australia), Amin Askar (Kristiansund, Norway), Mukhtar Suleiman         (Katwijk, Holland), Ibrahim Ilyas (Horseed FC,   Somalia), Abdi Aziz Eenow Dahir (Una, Holland), Mohamed Awad  (Auckland City, Turkey), Said Haji (San Jose Earthquakes, USA).