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’s Kawempe Muslim Ladies have defeated AS FAR Rabat in their opening Group B match of the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League.
Fatima Tagnaout gave the reigning champions the lead after only six minutes at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismaila on Monday afternoon.
She made mistake finishing after Kawempe Muslim Ladies failed to defend well. The two sides continued to attack and create scoring opportunities, but failed to convert.
After recess, the CECAFA Zone champions got of the blocks more determined to find goals and scored after 53 minutes through Agnes Nabukenya, Five minutes later Shakirah Nyingahirwa netted the second goal for Kawempe Muslim Ladies.
But the Moroccan side did not give up and leveled matters through Doha El Madani. Kawempe Muslim Ladies showed late moments is sport with a third goal in the fourth minute of added time through Nabukenya again.
It was all celebration after the final whistle as the Ugandan side celebrated their win on their debut in the CAF Women’s Champions League.
“We are very happy with this win because it gives us good momentum in the tournament,” said Kawempe Muslim Ladies coach Ayub Khalifa Kiyingi.
The second group B match saw USFAS Bamako suffered a huge 5-1 defeat to Ghana’s Ampem Darkoa Ladies.
Kawempe Muslim Ladies will return to action against Ampen Darkoa Ladies and a win for them will see them book a place in the semi final stage.
The sixth edition of the annual African premier women’s club tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) kicked off on Sunday and ends on November 15th.
Group B standing
P W D L GF GA GD Pts
Ampem Darkoa 1 1 0 0 5 1 4 3
Kawempe Muslim 1 1 0 0 3 2 1 3
AS FAR 1 0 0 1 2 3 -1 0
USFAS Bamako 1 0 0 1 1 5 -4 0
Ugandan giants Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC have vowed to prove a point when they feature in the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League.
The sixth edition of the annual African premier women’s club tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) will take place November 1-15th in the Egyptian cities of Cairo and Ismailia.
After winning the Zonal qualifiers in the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) in Rwanda last month, Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC will be making their debut in the eight team tournament.
The Ugandan giants are placed in Group B alongside the reigning champions AS FAR Rabat (Morocco), USFAS Bamako (Mali) and the eventual WAFU B representatives Ampem Darkoa (Ghana).
Ayub Khalifa Kiyingi, the Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC coach has made it clear that they are well prepared for the tournament.
“After winning the Zonal title we embarked on serious training and the players have been responding well. We know it will be a tough task in the tournament, but we believe we have what it takes to perform well and challenge for the title,” added coach Khalifa.
The coach made it clear that although they are going to this tournament for the first time, they are very prepared. “No Ugandan team has been there or played there before. But I have told the players it is not the first time we are going to play Football,” explained the coach.
He said the experience and exposure they got playing teams from other countries in the Zonal qualifiers has also prepared them well enough on what to expect.
Kawempe Muslim Ladies earned their place at the continental showpiece by winning the CECAFA Zonal Qualifiers, beating Kenya Police Bullets 1-0.
Kawempe Muslim Ladies will open their campaign against reigning champions AS FAR Rabat on November 2.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Juliet Adeke, Josephine Nambuya
Defenders: Sharifah Nakimera, Ahsia, Claire Kebirungi, Ritah Mushimire, Aminah Nakato, Samalie Nakacwa
Midfielders: Krusum Namutebi, Zainah Nambozo, Hadijah Babirye, Agnes Nabukenya, Shakirah Nyinagahirwa
Forwards: Jovia Nakagolo, Anita Namata, Shadia Nabirye, Latifah Nakasi, Belinda Hope Nabawanuka, Cecelia Apiding
Kenya will face Japan in the knock out Group of 16 at the on-going 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup on October 29th in Morocco.
The Kenya Junior Starlets wrote history on Sunday beating Samoa 4-0 in their last Group E match to qualify for the Group of 16.
Mwanakombo Bakari netted a brace, while Brenda Awuor and Gaudancia Maloba also got their names on the score sheet in the match played at the Mohammed VI Football Academy in Sale.
The victory secured Kenya’s place in the knockout stages as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams.
Kenya had lost it’s opening match 3-0 to China, and 6-1 to USA, with Lindey Atieno netting the lone goal.
Ghana, Nigeria and hosts Morocco are the only other African teams that have also qualified for the knock out Group of 16.
The defending champions North Korea will face Morocco, while Ghana take on Argentina, and Nigeria battle Mexico in the other Group of 16 matches involving African teams.
The 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup is the tenth edition of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, and will climax on November 7th, 2026.
The Kenya’s Junior Starlets have made a false start in the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
Kenya suffered a 3-0 defeat to China in their opening Group E match played in Rabat, Morocco on Monday.
Brendah Achieng had an early attempt for the Junior Starlets, but missed the target. Yu Yue later put China ahead after 12 minutes.
In the second half Xu Xiaotany netted a brace for China in the match played at the Mohammed VI Football Academy.
Coach Mildred Cheche’s side struggled to create clear scoring opportunities. Later Joan Orwa had an opportunity to score for Kenya, but her effort was saved.
Kenya’s Junior Starlets will now prepare to face group E leaders USA on Thursday. The USA humbled Samoa 17-0 in their opening match. Kenya will conclude their Group E matches against Samoa on October 25th.
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