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.
Simba Queens have reclaimed the Tanzania Women’s Premier League title.
The Queens officially won the 2025/2026 Tanzania Women’s Premier League title after defeating Mashujaa Queens 5-2 in a League match played on Sunday at the KMC Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
They reclaimed the championship with two matches left to the end of the season
Kenyan International Jentrix Shikangwa, who leads the club in goals-scoring netted a brace in the match to take her tally in the league this season to 16 goals.
While Simba Queens comfortably won their match, their challengers Yanga Princess lost further ground by drawing 1-1 with third-placed JKT Queens.
The win for Simba Queens means Yanga Princesses who are currently on 44 points, cannot match or surpass the former’s total of 56 with only two matches left to the end of the season.
Simba Queens who have won the Tanzania Women’s Premier League title will now represent the country in the CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA Zonal qualifiers to take place in Rwanda.
FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup qualifiers
Kenya, Ethiopia advance in FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers
CECAFA teams Kenya and Ethiopia have advanced to the third round of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2026 qualifiers.
After settling for a 1-1 draw against Uganda in Kampala, the two sides settled for a goalless draw in the return leg played on Saturday in Nairobi Kenya advanced on an away goal’s rule.
Tanzania were eliminated by South Africa on a 2-0 goal aggregate after they lost the first leg 2-0 and settled for the goalless draw away from home in a match played on Sunday.
Ethiopia managed to see off Burundi 4-2 on goal aggregate after winning the two legs by the same margin 2-1. Mihret Ayele and Lydia Eyasu netted two second half goals to silence the home crowd on Sunday at the Intwari Stadium in Bujumbura.
Dancille Iranzi had given the home side an early 5th minute lead, but the hosts failed to find more goals.
Ethiopia will now face Zambia in the final round of the qualifiers, while Kenya take on South Africa. The other matches will see powerhouse Nigeria face Benin, while Senegal take on Ghana.
Four other teams from Africa will qualify to join hosts Morocco for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup final tournament.
FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup qualifiers
Ethiopia defeat Burundi in FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifier
Hosts Ethiopia have defeated Burundi 2-1 in the first leg of the second round of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2026 qualifier.
Lydia Lyasu netted a first brace to give Ethiopia a 2-0 lead at the Abebe Bikila Stadium in Addis Ababa on Sunday.
After recess Burundi pulled a goal back through Anita Ndikumana.
On Saturday Tanzania suffered a 2-0 home defeat to South Africa in a match played at the New Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar.
Uganda and Kenya settled for a 1-1 draw in a match played on Friday at the FUFA Kadiba Stadium in Kampala.
The winner between Ethiopia and Burundi will face the winner between Zambia and DR Congo in the third round, while the winner between Uganda and Kenya faces the winner between Tanzania and South Africa.
Four other teams from Africa will qualify to join hosts Morocco for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup final tournament.
CECAFA teams Uganda and Kenya have settled to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the second round of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2026 qualifier.
The hosts Uganda took the lead after 13 minutes with Shadia Nabirye scoring at the FUFA Kadiba Stadium.
After a well by Immaculate Acen, Nabirye was quick to rebound after Kenyan goalkeeper Mishel Okoyo had parried back the ball.
But the Kenyan did not give up and continued to attack at the Ugandan goal.
After recess Kenya’s technical bench made changes bringing Emily Adhiambo and Gaudencia Maloba to replace Fleviah Khatenje and Ivy Atieno.
Adhiambo later leveled matters for Kenya with a long shot taken from far outside the box after 61 minutes.
The two teams tried to create more scoring opportunities, but failed to find the goals.
The Uganda Teen Cranes coach Sheryl Ulanda Botes, said that her team created some decent scoring opportunities, but where not sharp in finishing. “We need to go back to the drawing board and prepare well for the return leg,” said Botes.
Action continues on Saturday with Tanzania hosting South Africa, while Ethiopia will face Burundi on Sunday.
Four other teams from Africa will qualify to join hosts Morocco for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup final tournament.
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