Mogadishu — Somalia’s national football team, the Ocean Stars, departed Mogadishu on Saturday, heading to Mozambique for a decisive preliminary-round clash against Mauritius in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
The match represents a critical step in Somalia’s bid to advance in the continent’s premier football tournament. Both sides are seeking a vital result to keep their qualification hopes alive, with the fixture expected to be a tightly contested affair.
Head coach Yusuf Ali Nur has named a full-strength squad for the trip, featuring a balanced mix of players across all positions as Somalia looks to build momentum in the qualifiers. The team selection includes several players competing in international leagues, reflecting the federation’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the national side.
Full Squad:
- Goalkeepers: Abdirahman Mohamud Jamaac, Ibrahim Ahmed Hussen, Said Aleley Hassan.
- Defenders: Abel Gigli, Ali Mohamed Omar, Mahmoud Ali, Ahmed Abdullahi Abdi, Abdulle Abdullahi Abdulle, Faysal Abubakar Osman, Abdiweli Abdirahman Mohamed, and Mohamed Hassan Mohamed.
- Midfielders: Jarma Ibrahim Abdi, Abdirahman Mohamud Sharif, Ilyas Akram Khamis, Omar Hassan Jamaac, Abdisamad Abdullahi, Mukhtar Abdi Suleyman.
- Forwards: Zakaria Nur Abdullahi, Yusuf Ali Ahmed, Sakariya Hassan, Isse Adan Yusuf, Abdulqadir Adan Enow, Mohamed Abdullahi Awad.
Somalia has historically faced challenges competing on the continental stage, often playing home fixtures abroad due to security and infrastructure constraints. Nevertheless, the Ocean Stars have shown steady improvement in recent years, aiming to translate development efforts into competitive success. The upcoming encounter against Mauritius offers a crucial opportunity to take a significant step toward the next round of the AFCON 2027 qualification campaign.