WOMEN
Women’s Football finally played in Somalia
The world Football governing body, FIFA has welcomed the move by Somalia to finally start engaging with women’s Football.
On March 8th, 2024 women’s football was finally played in the capital Mogadishu to commemorate International Women’s Day with Futsal match.
SWF women’s football team, defeated their rivals of SSC by 3-1 in the maiden women’s futsal match, which fully broke the barriers that once prevented Somali women from playing football.
Gelson Vernandes, the FIFA director for member associations Africa welcomed that Somali women are now officially playing football.
“We would like to extend our sincere congratulations to the Somali Football Federation for the activities organized, particularly to mark International Women’s Day. It is admirable to see such openness and to allow women to play and enjoy this sport. This initiative demonstrates a strong desire to promote gender equality and inclusion in football,” said Vernandes.
President of the Somali Football Federation (SFF), Ali Abdi Mohamed also praised the Women’s committee in the Federation of organizing the match to ensure women’s football officially starts in Somalia.
“I am really overjoyed that my long-standing dreams have become true. The futsal match was the start of a series of activities for the girls and young women who have been well involved in training programs for the past several months. Our aim is to see Somali women being fully active in the international football calendar very soon, added the President.
Ibtisam Yassin, the SFF head of Women’s football also said they are pleased that the department was able to organize a futsal match after several months of trainings and awareness workshops for both parents and girls.
“Our efforts paid off and we will continue organizing the awareness workshops for parents and girls plus the training programs, as this strategy has yielded positive results,” she added.
The head of Communication in SFF, Shafi’i Mohyaddin Abokar pointed out that having women’s football start in Somalia is a real sig of removal of cultural barriers.
“In Somalia, women have never played official football due to cultural barriers, as Somali parents never allowed their daughters to play football, because Somali parents recognized women’s football “the worst shame” and crime against Somali culture and religion, but after months of awareness workshops some parents have allowed their daughters to play the game,” added Abokar.
He also made it clear that now the awareness workshops are part of the SFF strategy to develop women’s football and overcome the cultural barriers that once prevented Somali women getting the opportunity to play the game.
Uganda International Shadia Nankya has joined French Women’s Premiere Ligue side Le Harve AC.
The Club also known as Le Havre Athletic Club announced the development on Tuesday.
The talented defender joins the French side on a one and a half year contract joins from Dallas Trinity FC in USA.
“I am very happy to start a new chapter in my professional Football career,” said Nankya.
The Ugandan defender becomes the first Ugandan to play in the French Women’s Premiere Ligue.
The 25 year old defender last year signed for the Washington Spirit on a two-year contract in the USA, but was later loaned to Dallas Trinity.
Nankya who also first featured for Uganda Women’s League side, Lady Cardinals started her professional career with Egypt Women’s Premier League side FC Masar.
Kenya’s Harambee Starlets have arrived in Ivory Coast ahead of two International friendly matches against Benin and the hosts.
Under head coach Beldine Odemba, the Harambee Starlets will face Benin on Monday, and conclude with a match against Ivory Coast on March 4th at the Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara d’Ebimpé.
The two matches are will be used as build-ups ahead of the 2026 TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) expected to take place in Morocco March 17th to April 3rd.
“We are glad that the team will play two build-up matches in Ivory Coast and later have time to camp in France,” said coach Odemba.
Ivory Coast are currently ranked 72nd in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings, while Benin sit at 139. Kenya is currently placed 133rd.
Kenya and Tanzania are the two teams that qualified for the 2026 WAFCON. The Harambee Starlets are pooled in Group A alongside Morocco, Senegal and Algeria.
Final squad
Goalkeepers: Lilian Awuor, Annedy Kundu, Juliet Adhiambo
Defenders: Ruth Ingosi, Dorcas Shikobe, Enez Mango, Vivian Nasaka, Elizabeth Ochaka, Diana Ochol, Lorine Ilavonga, Elizabeth Muteshi
Midfielders: Lydia Akoth, Vidah Akeyo, Lorna Nyarinda, Fasila Adhiambo, Martha Amunyolet, Mwanalima Adam, Shaline Nambengele
Forwards: Violet Nanjala, Elizabeth Wambui, Jentrix Shikangwa, Shalyne Opisa, Airin Madalina, Valerie Nekesa, Eglay Mukhwana
Tanzania’s women’s national team have stepped up preparations ahead of the Pink Ladies Cup 2026.
The Twiga Stars will participate in the 4-Nations tournament that runs February 28th to March 6th in the United Arab Emirates.
Coach Bakari Shime’s team will use the tournament to prepare ahead of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). : We have already started preparations and we hope the Pink Ladies Cup will also help us to tune well ahead of the WAFCON,” added Shime.
The other teams that feature in the Pink Ladies Cup include; Ghana, Russia and Hong Kong.
FIFA U-20 Women;s World Cup qualifiers
Tanzania, Uganda advance in FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers
Two teams from the CECAFA Zone Tanzania and Uganda have advanced to the final round of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
After winning 1-0 in the return leg against Kenya of the third round played at the Azam Complex on Saturday, hosts Tanzania tied the match 1-1 and won 3-1 on penalty shoot-outs.
Winfrida Hubert netted the lone goal for the home side to ensure the match went into penalty shootouts.
In Ndola at the Mwanawasa Stadium, the Uganda Queen Cranes team shocked the hosts winning 1-0 with Mary Kantono scoring after 7 minutes. Uganda qualified for the next round on a 2-1 goal aggregate.
“We are very happy that the team played their hearts out and won the match away from home. We now need to prepare well ahead of the last group matches,” said Uganda’s head coach Sheryl Botes.
Uganda will now face Ghana, while Tanzania take on in the final Cameroon in the final phase of the qualifiers to book a place in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2026.
Africa will be represented by the best four teams to join 20 others from other continents at the 2026 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup to take place in Poland later this year.
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