Somalia came within a penalty kick of winning the CECAFA U17 title on October 20, 2026. Uganda lifted the trophy after winning 6-5 on penalties following a 0-0 draw in the final. Rwanda finished third with a 2-1 win over Ethiopia, securing a place at the U17 AFCON.
Ethiopia, who couldn’t repeat last year’s success, lost 4-0 to Uganda in the semi-finals and then fell to hosts Rwanda in the third-place match. Somalia’s run was one of the tournament’s highlights.
To understand how Ethiopia’s neighbors built a squad capable of getting this far, Tila Fok spoke to @OceanStarsEsp, who covers Somali football in Spanish, works as a Somalia researcher for Football Manager, and is a former scout for Al Ittihad.
What makes this team different from previous sides?
I don’t think this team is very different from the last four squads we’ve sent to the CECAFA U17 tournament. Somalia could currently be considered a regional powerhouse in this age group. We’ve qualified for three of the last four U17 AFCONs, and in the one instance where we didn’t, we remained undefeated.
The 2006-born generation, which won the tournament, is the most similar to this group in terms of player profiles and roles. This squad doesn’t necessarily strike me as superior to last year’s or earlier ones, but it features arguably the two best prospects Somalia has ever produced, players who truly make the difference.
What work has been done to strengthen the team?
They held a training camp of about three months, which was also done for previous generations. Ever since the 2006-born generation won the CECAFA U17 Championship in Ethiopia in 2022 and performed solidly at the U17 AFCON, the federation has taken this age group seriously. It’s the only youth category, alongside the U15s, in which Somalia competes.
They now typically organize long camps and selection processes across the entire country, whereas in the past these were largely confined to Mogadishu.
Who are the standout players?
Mohamed Mohamud Osman “Anaa Box” (Horseed SC, born 2011) and Abdullahi Bashir “Caaqil” (Heegan SC, born 2010) are the best players. Both had strong roles at top clubs in the Somali National League. Mohamud Osman won young player of the season while still 14 for most of it. Caaqil was one of the starting center-backs for the league’s best defensive team and played in the CAF Champions League.
What is the coach like?
Coach Daadir Amin Ali, a former player for the Somali national team and the local league, is arguably the best coach currently working in Somalia. He manages Mogadishu City Club, with whom he has won the league title; he also led the team to a strong performance in the CAF Champions League against the then-Kenyan champions, Kenya Police—a tie they lost on the away goals rule (with both matches played in Nairobi). He is a young coach who excels at maximizing his available resources and connects well with his players; he is a calm individual.
And what are you expecting at the AFCON?
Heading into the AFCON, Somalia has a historic opportunity to qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup. It’s the first time we’ll compete under the new qualification rules, with 10 of the 16 participating teams going through.
I predict about five new players from the diaspora will be added for the U-17 AFCON, as the federation typically brings in players from abroad for this tournament. All players at the CECAFA U-17 were locally based except two from Kenya.
