Hundreds of spectators gathered in a Mogadishu stadium to watch a women’s football match, a scene that would have been unthinkable in the Somali capital just a few years ago due to threats from the Al-Qaeda-affiliated group Al-Shabaab, which opposed public entertainment, particularly for women.
The match, between the Ilays team and Nasiib, ended 5-0 but was celebrated as a milestone. While seating in the main stand remained largely segregated, the presence of mixed audiences marked a shift. Security in Mogadishu has improved significantly, though Al-Shabaab retains a concealed influence.
The national women’s championship, launched in 2024 with 80 players, has rapidly grown to include 600 athletes across 10 teams, primarily based in Mogadishu. “No one could have imagined that one day Somali women would play football… where even men were forbidden,” said Ali Abdi Mohamed, president of the Somali Football Federation. He noted that while some conservative families remain hesitant, serious opposition has not materialised.
Somalia’s men’s team is ranked 200th by FIFA, and the women’s side, which played its first friendly in October, is not yet internationally recognised. That is set to change as the under-17 “Ocean Queens” prepare for their debut tournament in Tanzania this May.
Players like 17-year-old midfielder Ramas Abdi Salah adhere to modest dress codes, wearing long sleeves, tights, and a headscarf. “I’m fully covered except for my face and my hands. I haven’t received any bad comments,” she said, adding her family supports her participation. Goalkeeper Najma Ali Ahmed, despite conceding five goals in the recent match, emphasised the perseverance required: “I’m sending a message to female footballers to work toward the dream of joining the national team.”
The growth of women’s football highlights a gradual social shift in a conservative society, moving from outright prohibition toward structured, increasingly accepted public competition. The upcoming international appearance signifies the sport’s formal integration and a potential new chapter for Somali athletics.
