MOGADISHU – The President of the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA), Paulos Andemariam, has commended Somalia’s recent achievements in football development, highlighting growing progress across various levels of the sport despite longstanding challenges.
Speaking during the Somali Football Federation’s (SFF) Annual General Assembly in Mogadishu, Andemariam praised the federation’s efforts to promote football and expand opportunities for young players, particularly women and girls.
He singled out Somalia’s U-17 women’s national team for its historic participation in the CECAFA U-17 Women’s Championship, describing the achievement as an important milestone for the country’s football development and a positive sign of increasing female participation in the sport.
“The participation of Somalia’s U-17 women’s team in a CECAFA championship for the first time is a remarkable achievement and demonstrates the federation’s commitment to developing football at all levels,” Andemariam said.
The CECAFA chief also acknowledged the progress made by the Somali Football Federation in strengthening youth development programmes, improving football administration, and expanding competitions aimed at nurturing future talent.
Somali football has shown signs of steady growth in recent years, with increased investment in grassroots programmes, youth competitions, coaching development, and women’s football. The federation has also worked closely with regional and international football bodies to improve standards and create more opportunities for Somali players.
Officials attending the assembly reviewed the federation’s activities, financial performance, and development plans, while discussing strategies to further strengthen domestic football and increase Somalia’s competitiveness in regional and continental competitions.
The Annual General Assembly brought together football administrators, club representatives, regional football officials, and stakeholders from across the country to assess progress and outline priorities for the coming years.
Andemariam reaffirmed CECAFA’s support for Somalia’s football development efforts, expressing confidence that continued investment in youth and women’s football would help the country achieve greater success on the regional stage.
